Mike's story is so tragic esp bc he was doing the right thing. He wasn't out there for a dare or some reckless stunt, or going to a place with ten foot fence, covered in warrnings. He was trying to help his elderly boss remove debris and unclog the drain. again, it's a right thing to do, for a 28 year old, healthy and ablebodied man, to help a 76 year old man with a task that requires strength and moving heavy things.

@siddharthshekhar909

4 ай бұрын

Heavy rain, drains , water logging make a deadly cocktail. Mike should just have refused. Called in sick or something. Being too nice in this world can be dangerous.

@MimiYuYu

4 ай бұрын

But why was he so stuck? Did they ever find out?

@teresahaugen3974

4 ай бұрын

@@MimiYuYu if you watch the video it tells you. His leg was stuck in the grating.

@MimiYuYu

4 ай бұрын

@@teresahaugen3974yea I got that. He was in the grating. But why couldn’t they pull him out. Seems like they didn’t try hard enough to get him out

@bostontowny4life744

4 ай бұрын

Oh fk that. He wasn’t doing the “right thing”. The right thing would be for him to be home with his father. Not going out in dangerous weather doing stupid jobs that AREN’T HIS RESPONSIBILITY!!! A senseless death because people have to be fking busy bodies instead of being home, safe with their families.

I can't believe they told Mike's father to go home instead of to just stay back and support him quietly. How tragic that he wasn't there with him when he died 🥺

@bathroomshoes

4 ай бұрын

probably because they were expecting to amputate and didn’t want his dad to see that.

@laurenann7094

3 ай бұрын

No one else's choice to make though.

@blakestephens8211

3 ай бұрын

​@@bathroomshoesHe also may have acted rash if he saw them doing that even if it was to save him. If a parent sees their children being hurt like that emotions may take over. It is a life altering situation to save his life and the pain would be unbearable if they can't numb it. And going by what was said I don't think they did or could give him pain killers.

@bathroomshoes

3 ай бұрын

@@blakestephens8211 exactly why doctors cannot treat their family or people they really care abt

@moo-kun

3 ай бұрын

I think they sent his dad home because it was extremely dangerous. The water was rising by the hour, and the weather was so extreme. It wasn’t safe. R.I.P Mike 🙏🤍

RIP to the first lady. Dying alone and no one even noticing is pretty sad. I'm not a psychologist, but it struck me as more sad that since she didnt hurt anyone when she would chase people in the hall, people just ignored it. It almost seems like she did it for "attention" or "help" yet to no avail. May you have eternal peace.

@markoischara7618

3 ай бұрын

also there is a chance that people from now on, will get stuck in that lift around that floor. Than the light will start to flicker and than a woman will appear and scratch there eyes out.

@vampire9545

3 ай бұрын

​@@markoischara7618if only 😆

@Sniperboy5551

3 ай бұрын

Sounds like she had a lot of underlying issues, sounds more like “good riddance” to me. She was harassing her neighbors for months, even years.

@bufficliff8978

3 ай бұрын

With our understanding of mental illness light years beyond what it used to be we NEED asylums back.

@IAmGodHimself777

3 ай бұрын

@@markoischara7618??

You literally scared the living poop outta my sleeping dog when you yelled "old SEAGULL LUNG!". 🤣

@jaredchampagne2752

2 ай бұрын

Yea it’s a little over the top, one of the most obnoxious and cringey things I’ve seen.

@silverkiss37

2 ай бұрын

@@jaredchampagne2752 I personally love it when he does 'ol Seagull Lung lol.

@TyeArtisik

2 ай бұрын

Ha

@violetwade6528

Ай бұрын

@@jaredchampagne2752 Well...That's like your opinion man.

@aleyamanteufel1904

29 күн бұрын

@@jaredchampagne2752 no it’s not bruh

Only Mr Ballen can go from a very sad morbid story to the manic sponsored ramblings of a mad man. Truly iconic

@angeldays3487

4 ай бұрын

Him & OL’ LUNGY

@user-cs6zy6uy4x

4 ай бұрын

Yeah wtf is ol seagull lung about!? I imagine there’s a backstory.

@gb5634

4 ай бұрын

Never fails to make me cringe

@JuustPM

4 ай бұрын

@@gb5634same

@MissKellyBean

4 ай бұрын

It's not iconic, it's disrespectful to the families of the deceased, I love Mr. Ballen and he's a good person, but he needs to stop those disrespectful ads. He could think of something funny and clever, without being so rude to the families of the victims. It's cringe and frankly it's just getting old.

Good job on the shop owner to call the authorities before rushing out to save Mike. A lot of the time, people rush into action before thinking to call for help.

@DubstepLavahead

4 ай бұрын

He was a 76 year old man. That’s the whole reason Mike was there, he was a weak, elderly man. What would he have been able to do? Especially if two, fully able bodied police officers couldn’t pull him out?

@stenchemitter2407

4 ай бұрын

@@DubstepLavahead I don't really watch anime but I'm pretty sure becoming older only increases your power in Asian countries

@borntoclimb7116

4 ай бұрын

And lot of those peoples got shot or stabbed

@voiceofreason6686

4 ай бұрын

Doctors also waited far too long before deciding to amputate. It would've been difficult if they had tried immediately. Waiting was a death sentence.

@MirrenTheDragonKnight

4 ай бұрын

​@@DubstepLavaheadAt least he tried. He acted like a man, not a coward.

i actually cried listening to Mike's story. no one should ever go through something as horrific as that. RIP Mike 😢

Something that's a little annoying about the legal systems in various countries is that they don't take missing reports very seriously if the potential victims are adults until it's usually too late. I understand that there's an issue of wasting manpower and also that two adults not answering their phone while on a vacation isn't weird by any means, but if both sets of parents are coming to you saying that it's unlike their children to not check-in or return calls, I'd want you as the authority to take this more seriously. Parents usually know their children quite well, and there's nothing to be lost in just checking. Best case scenario: you find them, the parents overreacted. That's GREAT! Worst scenario: There's something wrong, like the parents thought, and heaven forbid the worst happened bc people were to slow to act.

FYI The Korean fisherman allegedly named Oh Jong-geun did give a motive for the murders. It was sexual assault of the women. Oh refused to take the blame. He blamed the victims and 'the system'. 85 year old Oh is still alive and complains that his family has never visited him during his 17 year incarceration. Sadly his eldest child took their own life due to the shame.

@rabbit_bum

3 ай бұрын

Also after listening to the story, I find it hard to believe people asked to go on his boat. He more likely offered to give people a ride so he could assault them.

@somebody700

3 ай бұрын

So he had one more victim after his incarceration..

@ChickenHootdog

3 ай бұрын

@@rabbit_bumThis what baffles me. Did those people really BEGGED to be on that boat? I might have missed it but for what really?

@kristadietz6632

3 ай бұрын

@@ChickenHootdogYeah he said “I killed them because they refused me touching thier breasts” when he was asked why.

@kristadietz6632

3 ай бұрын

@@ChickenHootdogPolice believes that he was luring people to see the view on a boat. I don’t think they were actually “begging” to get on a small octopus boat.

You're gonna have a stroke doing your ads! 😂😂😂😂

@KatrinaJoseph

4 ай бұрын

Frr. He does go over the top with his acting during the commercials.

@leandrialewis5558

Ай бұрын

Ole seagull lung!!!!

@laurengreen4278

Ай бұрын

They crack me up 😂 😂😂

@theresatomsen5254

14 күн бұрын

These commercials crack me up!

@LindaConder-nn7uy

Күн бұрын

Ole seagull lung was the best name ever!!!!

These stories are such a sanity saver. When im in a rut and things are stressful and going to shit, i click on one of these stories and I'm completely absorbed within a couple of minutes. For 1/2 an hour i experience a much needed mental/emotional rest from my troubles.

@MeowingCat835

2 ай бұрын

Hey there, how are you doing?

7:06 , your suddenly getting possessed by Jack Black's spirit actually scared me harder than any story you could have possibly been telling ...

@snoopybrown9326

26 күн бұрын

You nailed it! Jack Black. I knew the flavor of that crazy seemed familiar. Thank you. I'm not as weirded out now.

Mike's tragic death was really heart breaking and how terrible it must have been for his father watching it actually happen on live television. My heart goes out to them both and may Mike rest in peace. ❤

Mike's story is probably one of the saddest stories I've ever heard 🙏🏻

@johnshaj2540

4 ай бұрын

Same

@robydee920

4 ай бұрын

Try story about Omayra Sánchez Garzón, you'll have definitive saddest story.

@keeshonturner9816

4 ай бұрын

Try the paria pipeline incident.... it's almost like an unbelievable movie except it's reality

@user-sl1tu9ww4n

4 ай бұрын

Im a trainwreck over his dad going home I mean I know police told him to but hope maybe mike new and told him to go home because he didnt want watch him die that he did anyway , just hope I missed something , truly upsets me on this one, could never up and leave , would not , have kill me plain and simple

@zenjigaming3342

4 ай бұрын

Go find out Afghanistan muslim girl story who got burnt , stomped then dragged while she was covered in blood then stripped naked , car Tyre droved over head and later burnt. All cuz one Quran book seller falsely accused her after burning Quran himself

#2 is really really scary the way he described himself having urges he couldn't control. People who aren't already serial killers don't say that. I wonder how many people he killed in his lifetime

Anyone else remember the day they discovered Mr Ballen??? best day of my life!!!! ☺️

R.I.P Mike, I can’t even begin to imagine the pain he went through. Your story telling is amazing man!

@bostontowny4life744

4 ай бұрын

And for what? Because he wanted to be Mr. Hero good guy, doing bullshit that IS NOT HIS RESPONSIBILITY, instead of being home with his father where he was supposed to be. He died a fools death, and now his poor father will have to suffer for it. It depresses and enrages me.

@jefftheturtle4734

4 ай бұрын

@@bostontowny4life744 miserable much

@bostontowny4life744

4 ай бұрын

@@jefftheturtle4734 I have no patience for stupidity and busy bodies.

@AE86fan

4 ай бұрын

@@bostontowny4life744good, you can live alone and not affect anyone else positively by going out of your way and do things to help others

@Fangirl-kk3zt

4 ай бұрын

​@bostontowny4life744 victim blaming much? And btw it literally was his job so get your facts straight. He went to help his boss who is a senior. Not a fool, nor a busy body (not that there is really anything wrong with a busy body jeez)

Woo's story made me feel abnormally sad. She was just a woman who no one knew, and no one thought to look for when she went quiet. Idk man, hits me hard

@MaidenHelll

4 ай бұрын

Was her name Woo too?

@briannam916

4 ай бұрын

Yeah she was their literal canary and they all enjoyed the peace so much they didn't stop to ask why.

@wuznotbornyesterda

4 ай бұрын

You'd think people would have smelled a stench from the elevator. That apt bldg must really stink!

@047Kenny

4 ай бұрын

Eh it annoyed me. She did it to herself. Oh well, take mental health more seriously.

@epic7224

4 ай бұрын

Wu* she's Chinese.

I might of missed it, but how do we know it was the victims who begged Oh Jong-geun to go on his boat and he himself didn't lure them on by offering a trip?

No way any number of cops could make me leave my son stuck and nearly drowning in a drain. I hold no delusion that I could get him out, and i wouldn't get in the way or act like a stereotypical hysterical parent, but i could not leave him to suffer surrounded by strangers. I understand that the dad was in shock and heartbroken to see his son in that condition, and that is why he left - i dont judge. I just hope that the decision to leave doesn't haunt that poor dad - the loss is already too much to bear

I knew immediately how Mike was going to die as soon as I heard drainage system and flooding. Delta P is no joke, one of my greatest fears, I'm so sorry that you went through this Mike, rest in peace EDIT: why the fuck did they not get every sump pump available and start pumping the street, and getting sandbags to redirect the water

@deprofundis3293

4 ай бұрын

Yes, cannot understand why they didn't make those efforts!!

@embalmertrick1420

4 ай бұрын

Thank you for mentioning it, l was thinking that myself!!!

@LegendaryFrankCastle

4 ай бұрын

Because British Police are incompetent. They don't even bother to protect teenage girls who are being raped, pimped out, and even murdered.

@S4NSE

4 ай бұрын

I don't think that would have been possible, else they would have done it, but they could at least have given him a hose to breath if he gets beneath the water and some heating elements

@MagWheels7

4 ай бұрын

I thought the exact same thing: where are the sand bags?

Poor Mike & how traumatising for his dad to witness such a tragedy🥺

@CarolDowning-lm7fm

4 ай бұрын

I understand the flood was news but filming the man's dying crossed a line.

@digdootyditches6789

4 ай бұрын

@@CarolDowning-lm7fmthey probably didnt knew he’d die and was probably hoping to film him getting saved

@xVilex

4 ай бұрын

Poor Mike but what about the 4 people who were murdered

@user-sl1tu9ww4n

4 ай бұрын

I truly cant believe his dad just went home, if my child I'm not leaving cop would surely have to kill me, not that they would have a problem with that , not in the states anyway but that caught me off guard, hope mike told him to leave also , hate think he wanted him there and he left him , I never get upset over these stories but this one got me, dont know , dont need to know but this is one I wished I never watched

@ileftearlyforthis

4 ай бұрын

His dad left him. That's insane. Who leaves their child?

Great video as usual! I've been busy in real life, so it's been a while since I did my last Mr Ballen binge, but that got me sparked again for an updated run-through. Your way of coming at a story from different interesting perspectives to add mystery to them, is excellent. Well done!

Probably the only KZreadr I’d never unsubscribe to 100% glaze idc bro it’s the worlds best story teller on KZread

Mikes story hit me like a ton of bricks. My closest cousin passed the same way when I was 14. He was swimming in a canal when his leg was sucked into a drainage gate and he got stuck. He was under for over 30 minutes, and it took 6 fireman to finally get him out. And please, before anyone comments about his stupidity in swimming in a canal, yes I know. But he was a kid, we didn't understand. Not like that

@cdes1776

4 ай бұрын

Of course a kid isn't going to realize. I'm sorry that happened to your family.

@A_Stereotypical_Guy

4 ай бұрын

I don't think anyone in this videos comments section would say something like that. Plenty of people swim in canals. We used to swim at the dam, a legit hydroelectric dam. We didn't understand what would happen if they opened the gates... And it did happen to a couple of girls I knew. One made it, one didn't.

@MrMezgomable

4 ай бұрын

I'm sorry for tour cousin!! He is still with you! BEST WISHES

@Tony-cn1lb

4 ай бұрын

Rip and prayers

@WatsonAndDaughter

4 ай бұрын

Very few adults even realize how powerful drainage systems are. There's no way a 14 year old would realize just how dangerous it was; not in the way that matters. I'm so sorry that happened.

Can we assume that, perhaps, Mike was lucky enough to pass from the hypothermia BEFORE slowly drowning or being further crushed down into the drain? I mean, those alternatives would seem much worse to me… ?? RIP to all of these victims.

@simonark1176

4 ай бұрын

I honestly thought Mrballen was going to say that Mike walked close and was sucked down into the drain immediately.... I literally held my breath!

@dalekcat

4 ай бұрын

Agreed, out of all the slower ways to die- hypothermia is probably the kindest way. The person dies of heart and lung failure, they won't feel the cold well before that point and are just confused. Not saying confusion is a good thing, but it's likely better than understanding what's happening. It's a bit sad the police sent Mikes dad away, but there's also a high chance Mike at this point didn't really understand anything that was happening around him. And his father would've had a far more life altering experience seeing his son die up close. All in all a very sad and unfortunate accident. RIP Mike

@notjohn6841

4 ай бұрын

​@@dalekcatit seems like doctors just tried to keep mike conscious, but Mike finally gave up. Same thing happens when you get bit by a snake, you have to remain conscious otherwise your body stops working due to neural damage.

@Irish_Georgia_Girl

4 ай бұрын

@mj6962 ~ I have to believe that as well. But his father tho.....oh Lord

@Irish_Georgia_Girl

4 ай бұрын

​​​@@dalekcatExcellent explanation @dalekcat....your words give me comfort that Mike's dad was much better off even though he probably doesn't think so...and I am certain you're right that Mike had long checked out before he died...I thought that when John described Mike's face from probably his dad's pov and said his "eyes looked blank". God bless them both and RIP Mike. Imagine also how horrible for his boss! It wasn't the man's fault AT ALL but you KNOW he blamed himself, since he always tried to clean that drain himself. I'll tell you who's fault it WAS though and that's the city! Surely there was a safer way to set that drainage system up so that that couldn't happen...but then again, I don't know...sometimes shit just happens....and I don't mean that as far as what happened to Mike...but just that living here in America where everyone always sues everyone over everything (don't get me wrong I LOVE my country!) I'm just used to thinking of "who's to blame?" when hearing horror stories like that and sometimes, no one is. As Marcus Aurelius supposedly said in "The Gladiator" (whether he really said this in real life tho, IDK): "Death smiles upon us all. Sometimes all one can do is smile back".

Lol bro how can u tell us such stories then immediately scream showing a frog 😭 I really nearly sh*t my pants

Hey, just wanted to say thanks for the amazing videos! Your passion and creativity really make our online hangout awesome. We appreciate you, keep up the fantastic work.

Damn, the final story was by far the worst thing I could imagine to happen to someone who just went to work on his day off to help his elderly boss clear the street drain. What an ending to such a seemingly inert beginning. Honestly I think Mike went far less painfully the way he did with hypothermia than the other option of having his leg amputated while under water, just think of all the disgusting amounts of bacteria and other things that could stretch on and on which would’ve most likely made the amputation kill him through infection in the end. And again, more painfully than hypothermia. I definitely feel for his father, as he was sitting there completely helpless and watched his son die on television. That’s an awful thing for any parent to not only experience, but to actually view it? Incomprehensible. That poor man. May God be with you good sir. 🙏

@endless3cho

4 ай бұрын

He would've been given antibiotics.

@Gawlakman

4 ай бұрын

Poor dude lost his wife too

@ileftearlyforthis

4 ай бұрын

The man left! He left his son!

@Mindonicon

4 ай бұрын

@@ileftearlyforthiscrazy

@Don.M.

4 ай бұрын

Ironically he worked in a tropical fish store…that sells submersible heaters.

Mike's story is one of the most tragic and sad stories I have ever heard. I feel horrible for his father and other loved ones.

Mr ballen is off a perc30 whenever he talks about seagull lung 😂😂

This guy could do an entire 30 minute video of nothing but sponsors and I would watch the entire video because they are just *that* entertaining. lol

All these stories are so sad especially the last one. I feel so bad for Mike's dad not only did he already lose his wife and than had to watch his only son die on live TV without getting to speak to him one last time. I hope he'll be ok.🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽

I am so proud of how far this channel has come. You really have bottled lightning. I am just thankful I got to experience and get in at the ground floor. Thank you for all that you do, your transparency and most importantly, the stories.

@MrBallen

4 ай бұрын

❤🙏

@SordidusFellatio

4 ай бұрын

Oh yeah, MrBalls that pull in viewers with over dramatizing his stories by straight up lying and slandering the dead(s), even hitting the lawsuits level kind of bullshit that he had to delete majority of his old videos which mostly only consisted of him making things up about the deceased. Oh yeah transparency alright, it’s kinda is bound to happen when you have someone that have spent their entire life being brainwashed to oblivion by their government to be nothing but a weapon, so they could only view other country as the bad guys while the US is the good guys 😂 so any stories outside of the US has to be filled with made up bs grim dark where the start to the ending is nothing but hollywood’d. Transparency alright, because MrBalls definitely knows the exact moment when the deceased looked to the left and then looked down and then thought about his family and looked right again and then walked half of a step backward only to thought about his family again to walk a step forward, oh yeah, totally logical 😂😂😂

@spookiii1839

4 ай бұрын

Same here!! I remember telling EVERYONE about him when he was only getting 5-10k views! He blew up alarmingly fast

@PeacefulGalaxy-xz3ze

4 ай бұрын

I was at the beginning 🎉❤

@nobodynowhere2128

4 ай бұрын

I don’t know when he started but he got me through when I was in bed with covid 2020

Ty Ive been waiting for one of these vids for a while. Love this channel keep it up man

i have to say thanks for these fantastic stories, seriously didn't think I'd find an uploader i could watch countless hours of!

"3 places you cant go and people who went there anyway" is by far the best series you do!

As a parent I can't imagine watching my child suffer like that and there isn't anything I could do and then watch them die. Mike's poor dad, that was heartbreaking.

MrBallen always does his best for us. The effort he puts into his advertising is hilarious.

Hey Mr Ballen i have watched you for about 5 years and i really like to watch your videos keep up the good work!

The second story makes you wonder how many times people claimed it was suicide and in actuality, it was an murder unsolved.

@maryeckel9682

4 ай бұрын

I'm sure it happens often

@somejerk5662

4 ай бұрын

Any time the police can get away with it. Why risk their lives or waste their budget going after a killer to save some peons? The job of police is protecting the government, not the public.

@pluto8404

4 ай бұрын

Epstein?

@StruggleBusStudios

4 ай бұрын

Every year around this time of year, I think about this local San Diego Police Officer who “committed suicide January 1st 2018.” Officer Estrada was found in her apartment bathroom with a gunshot wound between the eyes after leaving a New Year’s party fighting with her boyfriend, a fellow SDPD officer - despite controversy the San Diego Police investigated the scene themselves instead of handing it to another department and ruled it a suicide after the scene was heavily contaminated. Her family completely rejects all findings - I hope one day we can look back and find justice for her

@StruggleBusStudios

4 ай бұрын

@@EnvisionedBlindness had the pleasure of talking to her in passing in 2017 near mission beach and she just came off as a really lovely person who genuinely cared about the citizens of San Diego. I don’t think meeting someone in passing is enough to know about them but that along with other accounts I’ve heard, I don’t buy the SDPD account at all.

I feel so sorry for Mikes father. No parent should have to bury their child.

@carolegoldstein4482

4 ай бұрын

And in addition to watching him die on the news...

@dragonwolf7962

4 ай бұрын

And the fact that he didn't even get to talk to him when he was just right there. That part makes me angry at the police for not giving him that.

@nikkib8811

4 ай бұрын

I was born in Hull and remember hearing about this. I know people will have done everything they could to get Mike out, but it feels so unbelievable that they couldn't. Very sad.

@RebeccaRichardson1995

4 ай бұрын

speak for yourself, my dad cant wait to bury me lol

@lovelife1837

4 ай бұрын

I couldn’t leave am sorry I would afto stay with my child regardless 😢

I somehow feel very bad for saying this (since it is a very morbid topic) but “places you can’t go, and people that went anyway” is my favorite video series on KZread. Thanks for continuing!

Mr ballen is the only KZreadr to be able to switch from a creepy story to his madman tall tales about him and old Seagull lung!

Im from the north east of England and I remember the story of Mike and it was and still is really upsetting and tragic. Because of this story, flood water scares me and I will not walk or even drive over it.

@lynncarter3565

4 ай бұрын

I’m from the UK, Warwickshire. Many rivers in the UK burst their banks in heavy rainfall which causes catastrophic flooding which our drains can’t cope with. RIP Mike. Such a sad story

@zenjigaming3342

4 ай бұрын

He could have been saved if any police guy knew a lit bit about physics. How hard it was to build barrack around him which will slow or divert the water force in other direction? They should have called someone from survival or Forrest department. When you want to divert the water force or slow down the force you put solid building type structure with stones or in bigger picture you build dam . Seriously the guy could have saved but British people don't use their brain .

Mike’s story reminds me of the Nutty Putty cave story, so many people were trying to help him but he died anyway.

@Irish_Georgia_Girl

4 ай бұрын

Me too! Poor John Jones! And you know John was a cave rescuer before his own horrible tragedy. I actually was referring to him in a comment somewhere in this video comment section when I was talking about him saving a fellow caver by wrapping him in mylar and pouring heated water from a camping stove into the "pocket" He created around him with the mylar.

@Irish_Georgia_Girl

4 ай бұрын

Oh and Floyd Collins was another horrifying tragedy 😢

@WhateverDude38

4 ай бұрын

@@Irish_Georgia_Girl wow I didn't know John was a rescuer before his death. That's really sad.

@JelqtronZero

4 ай бұрын

same i was just thinking that. I also thought Mike was going to make it, just as i thought Floyd was too.

@wlwneamain

4 ай бұрын

Was just gonna comment that. So sad :(

My new Mr. Ballen promo add!! Hysterical!!

@Mrballen I watched your content when i was younger, and ive been searching for a while for your channel. I finally found it!

I can't imagine the drive home for mike's dad. Then watching his son die on the news ..that has to be the most soul wrenching thing on this earth no parent should have to see that

I’m from Hull… I remember the story of when he died. We had really bad rain that year like never before the whole city flooded. He got stuck trying to unblock a drain , the rain kept pouring you can see the water level has risen in the last few pictures. There was regular updates during that day on the radio of fire and rescue trying to get him out.

@adambuss654

4 ай бұрын

I'm from Hull too, and I still remember this story unfolding. Couldn't possibly imagine being in Mike's situation, and don't even want to think about how his dad felt! My grandparents downstairs flooded, and they lived in a caravan in their garden for the better part of a year while their house was fixed. We was lucky enough to not get hit so hard down my street, but the impact on the entire city shouldn't be understated

I gotta say bro. Your adverts with Seagull Lung stories are the only ads I don't skip. I don't give a shit about football, or gambling, or anything that Draft Kings has to offer, but I watched the whole damn thing. In fact, I often play this channel when I'm doing something else, just listening and not watching. However, whenever I hear you mention an adventure with Seagull Lung, I drop what I'm doing and watch with unabandoned amusement. I will watch the entirety of every Seagull Lung advert you do, no matter how uninteresting I find the product. People should pay you more for advertising. Keep it up bro.

Thank you Mr ballen for helping ne through another bad day, you are an angel, you help people mire than you could ever know. I have heard the first story on another channel whilst browsing but had no idea the poor woman in the elevator was mentally ill, just more proof of your thorough research and dedication, thank you and God bless xx

“3 places” is by far my favorite of your story structures.

@deprofundis3293

4 ай бұрын

Totally agree!

That last story very nearly happened to me when I was nine or ten years old. We had a huge flood in my neighborhood. Our street was high enough that water only came up into the front yard, maybe a foot deep in the street, but a couple of streets over the water was chest-deep in the street and a couple of feet deep in the houses along the street. A friend from down the street and I went wading through the flooded streets, amazed by how deep the water was a few streets over. I wandered too close to the edge of the street and felt the water tugging on my legs. I didn’t realize what it was at the time (it was a storm drain entrance) so I didn’t immediately move away from the edge of the street. I got knocked off my feet and I could feel myself being pulled toward the entrance to the storm drain. I managed to stand back up and walk away from the drain, a bit shaken but not too upset about it. My friend and I kept wading through the streets, keeping to the midday of the streets until we were back on our block. As an adult, I’m horrified when I think of how close I came to being sucked into that storm drain. Had I not regained my footing and stood back up, I would have been sucked into the opening of the drain. I probably wouldn’t have fit through the opening, which was six to eight inches high along the curb, but I would have been held underwater by the suction until I drowned. A terrifying way to die. Of course, we were near the Gulf Coast and the deepest-flooded street was near a bayou, so we could have been eaten by an alligator or bitten by a water moccasin or copperhead, which were probably swimming all around the city in that muddy water. It was the 1970s, though, when parents just let you run off and play in the streets with the other neighborhood children. No supervision. Just a, "Be back by supper!" as you ran out the door.

That last story about the man who died of hypothermia was so sad, I couldn't help but cry for his dad.

Your sponsor has to love you dude!!! Best promo I've seen in awhile. Rofl. Draft Kings had to be on the floor dyin in laughter 😂

I couldn’t imagine being Mike’s father in that situation. Being there to actually witness your son suffering like that and being told to leave without helping him. Really heartbreaking to know that he basically lost both important people in his life. But keep up the great work Jon. Always hooked on your storytelling.

That last story really broke my heart. That is terrible. The guy was just going out to help his boss. RIP Mike.

@amandawilson9555

4 ай бұрын

I'm so sorry to hear about what happened to Mike- I felt like I was there, with this story, and in his place. It was terrifying to me... imagine being caught somewhere and not being able to get out, and losing that hope for survival.

@stringbeanii

4 ай бұрын

r.i.p , mike. i hope healing for his father .

@amandawilson9555

4 ай бұрын

@@stringbeanii me too

@Unku.

4 ай бұрын

@@amandawilson9555while you see a whole bunch of people trying to help you and nothing works

I love your stories and your talent xx Brilliant I watch every night.

I think I heard this as a Mr Ballen podcast, only vocals. But I have to say, seeing Mr Ballen speak, and wave his arms about, seeing his facial expressions, I'll take the video every time. For some reason, as good as his delivery and stories are, when you see him saying it, and the looks on his face, it's just more compelling, more rounded. When I hear a master storyteller, I want to SEE them, as well. But I'm glad for the podcasts as well.

I feel like MrBallen would be fun to go camping with. Just imagine all the camping stories this guy could tell! Like as soon as the sun goes down and everyone sitting around the fire, every single person there would just look at MrBallen expectedly. Waiting for him to start telling a story.

@rosalia4770

4 ай бұрын

Yes!!

@aprilbowling6707

4 ай бұрын

Being deployed to a war zone would be absolutely dreadful but I bet he told some great stories there too. He has a gift to take your mind off things for a while.

How do you cut the power to an elevator without verifying it's empty? Poor woman sounds like she was a paranoid schizophrenic* UPDATE: The two maintenance workers were arrested for gross negligence (a couple articles also state manslaughter) for failing to follow safety protocol by forcing the doors open to confirm the elevator was empty. The elevator was stuck between floors 10&11. The workers said they yelled down from the 11th floor and didn't hear anyone before cutting power and trapping Wu from Jan 30 - March 1st. Articles also mention potential charges against the Maintenance Company and the Property Management Co (I'm still searching for follow-up articles). The woman's death led to widespread protests in that part of China.

@cdes1776

4 ай бұрын

Survivor's guilt

@llamaniaman4002

4 ай бұрын

I can't imagine how guilty and scared he felt before he died. Knowing his father would likely blame himself and see ir as a reason to be even more paranoid 😢 such a tragic situation.

@ItsNeverAManequin

4 ай бұрын

Survivor's guilt for whom? That is a term that gets thrown around as much as narcissist. With no real credibility. Mike was a good guy, going in on his day off to help and doing so sneakily so as not to worry his father. What an excruciatingly painful and dreadful way to die! They were trying to save his life but they should've came to the conclusion of amputation SO much sooner. As for the woman on floor 15- couldn't a group of neighbors gone by to see if she was okay? She couldn't take on all of them. Also, extreme negligence on the elevator workers part. As for the story of the two Korean's, sometimes when someone says 'no' it's best to accept that answer. One never knows what that other person is thinking/capable of.

@Joe-kx7bl

4 ай бұрын

One word…………CHINA

@Rulya-HaShem-Morrigan

4 ай бұрын

​@@ItsNeverAManequin Omg, right. I'm a Counselor & it's kinda annoying (not too much) that so many ppl use social science terms, like Narcissism/ist, Stockholm Syndrome, etc., without actually understanding the term.

My favorite sponsor ad yet! 😂Mr Ballen can scare the crap out of me, then totally crack me up! OLD SEAGULL LUNG!!! Gotta love him too...😅

These stories are so heart breaking. I always kind of panic when the elevator hesitates to open. I can't imagine actually being stuck in one for that long and just slowly dying alone with no food or water. That would be terrifying. Mikes story was also horribly sad. I felt so bad for him and for his father. His father should have at least said something to him. I figured the paramedics would try to drain some of that water out.

It's almost as if Mr. Ballen is giving all these people who have passed a decent burial with his wonderful narration, helping us see that these people were heroes in their own way, making simple people seem like celebrities to us, what a wonderful human you are Mr. Ballen, thank you ... Whatever would we do without you ... AGAIN THANK YOU!

@Irish_Georgia_Girl

4 ай бұрын

I ❤ your comment!

@wlwneamain

4 ай бұрын

That is a beautiful way of putting it

I’m a little bit shocked at how long it took them to call for an amputation. That was like… my first thought. So heartbreaking. I hope we can do better. Prayers to his family and anyone and everyone effected

@Daughter_ofStars

3 ай бұрын

I'm a little upset they didn't try to give him any pain reliever intravenously, like morphine, and then try to pull him out. I don't know if it would have worked, but if it could have numbed the pain enough to make it possible.

@motorbreathjz

3 ай бұрын

even better thought i was thinkin is why didnt they just put him to sleep and get him out?

@ilovebirds3157

3 ай бұрын

Don't they have large vehicles with pumps to pump large amounts of water from lakes and such, couldn't they have used one or even a few of those? Maybe create a dam at the end of the street to slow the water.

Some company needs to pick up Mr. Ballen for commercials!

Magical voice & great Story telling 😊

I literally gasped and clapped a hand over my mouth at the end of Mike's story. That is absolutely heartbreaking.

@TheEdgeLord

4 ай бұрын

Note to self:: Read comments after watching video... damn comments may sometimes be spoilers... oh poop #mrballen

@DravenGal

4 ай бұрын

I had the EXACT same reaction, then realized how I almost never react like that to these stories in such a physical way. It's just so insane that they couldn't even pull him out with a truck. And his poor dad! I got choked up too.

@josmith2469

4 ай бұрын

That is so sad😢

@JohnRiversOfficial

4 ай бұрын

this is Mr. Ballen, not That Chapter also ngl ebonyrose i think a lot kinda makes you gasp and clap a hand over your mouth.

@siddharthshekhar909

4 ай бұрын

I was praying " oh God, let Mike be saved in the end ' , but no ... terrible. I thought he would be saved after the amputation.

I live in hull and that story about mike dying in that drain had an effect on the community ..he was only trying to do the right thing and paid for it with his life.. god love him..rip mike never to be forgotton❤

@unknwn7283

4 ай бұрын

im from hull as well, i remember when all this happened and it did effect the community like the student that went missing for ages libby who sadly had her life taken from her

So happy you finally revisited places you can’t go!!!!!

Wow Mr. Ballen that last story was so sad dang i felt bad for Mike and his dad. Great video thank you.

You are the only KZreadr that I don't skip the advertisements on because I love your and Seagull Lungs adventures. Has me cracking up every time!

That last story is super sad. I can’t imagine turning around and going home I understand he couldn’t do anything to help but I would be on the sidelines telling him I loved him and stuff 🤷🏻‍♂️

@naonomtm9123

4 ай бұрын

Exactly…I couldn’t just leave.

@user-sl1tu9ww4n

4 ай бұрын

yea that really upset me it did and shit just dont bother me some say im heartless but that got me

@user-sl1tu9ww4n

4 ай бұрын

hope mike maybe knew and begged him to leave and we just didnt know that part

@Providedbygeoo

4 ай бұрын

Yeah nope! I would’ve never left!

Keep making more of this series!

I love how respectful you are to every victim and person you cover in these stories. You never make fun of or suggest that they were wrong, you just simply explain what happened.

@MelissaSueBee

4 ай бұрын

Mr.Ballen is great at that. I respect him.

I am incensed that the British police REFUSED to permit Mike Barrett’s father to see and speak to his son as he was facing death as each minute passed. Mike was batting relentless pain, torment, FEAR, confusion and the outcome. This was Mikes last chance to see his father bringing with him as he spoke softly, calmingly, loving as they spoke of the optimistic outcome. Mike would have fed off of the strength of his fathers presence brought whilst speaking of freedom, their love for each other as Mikes was no longer alone with his father by his side. Mike would not have been alone as he batted this tragedy a his father would have brought emotional comfort, support and togetherness as well.

@Taydrum

4 ай бұрын

OI YE GOT A PERMIT TO WATCH YER SON DIE?

@davinasquirrel7672

4 ай бұрын

Yes, I too was horrified the police would not allow Mike's father near. The police knew the situation was serious, with probable grim outcome, and they stopped Mike's father from having that final moment with him. That is unforgivable really. Even if Mike was not lucid, it would have made his father feel better to have that final moment.

@MRoachthe1

4 ай бұрын

The truth is that these are professionals doing a job. Any outside interference can and does cause problems. They needed Mike focused on cooperating with them. In an extreme situation you have to let them do their job. Had he been a patient in surgery, you wouldn’t allow family in the operating room.

@str8dnocuddldadshome213

4 ай бұрын

@@MRoachthe1they did a shit job

@davinasquirrel7672

4 ай бұрын

@@MRoachthe1 He was not in surgery, and in a precarious situation which looked grim. It is common humanity dignity to allow close relatives to say potential goodbyes. They had been at it for four hours, it was not like this was a surprise development. Get some compassion.

These are the stories that get me the most well done

Love watching your videos 😊

That last one broke my heart. What Mike went through and his father. Just awful, RIP.

@hollyperrin7353

4 ай бұрын

Why didn’t they get him oxygen tanks?

@lyndseyb4852

4 ай бұрын

@@hollyperrin7353 he died of hypothermia, the cold, he still had oxygen.

@RyAnxiety1

4 ай бұрын

he died of hyperthermia not drowning @@hollyperrin7353

@yakovbrod9992

4 ай бұрын

@@lyndseyb4852 Maybe they could have stopped the water or brought some sort of warming device.

@AdachiCabbage

4 ай бұрын

@@yakovbrod9992 There was no way to stop the water because it was raining and Mike was on the drain blocking the water flow. The warming device they couldn't do it either; it was too late. He was in the cold water for 4 hours.

Hey Mr. Ballen I just want to thank you for your videos man. I’m a recovering heroin addict and I recently fell off the wagon but I saw one of your videos and remembered how much watching your videos helped me get clean to begin with. And I’m happy to say I’m 72hours clean. I know it’s not much but it’s thanks to your videos. Thank you!’n❤❤😊😊

@briancollins2466

4 ай бұрын

Watching his videos played a big part in me kicking heroin/fentanyl as well. Stay strong out there. You deserve more than the drug can offer you

@Pieternel2002

4 ай бұрын

Stay strong, you can do this. ❤

@mary-melissatyree4003

4 ай бұрын

Your doing great..keep going. Melissa from ohio.

@allisonbrown1498

4 ай бұрын

Hope Ur still staying clean?. Hey 72 hours is fine. The biggest journey starts with the first step. One foot after another. Props to U for starting to change Ur life & get clean! Seriously. I KNOW it's tuff. An addict myself. Good for U. PLEASE stick with it! If Mr Ballen helps get U thru, U know there's plenty to binge on!

@maliaamtsberg5011

3 ай бұрын

Thinking of you Korey9998 stay strong

i love the way u become so animated when telling the stories

The hand movement is very well done sir.

The total tone shift from the first story to the ad gave me complete whiplash, I love how different his personality is when not talking about the strange, dark and mysterious delivered in story format.

@Infamous41

4 ай бұрын

I get my dad to pay $10 a month to cut the ads off.

@OMG_No_Way

4 ай бұрын

@@Infamous41Ad is in the video. Can’t cut it out. Can only fast forward or skip. It’s not a KZread ad.

@drodgod2918

4 ай бұрын

His storytelling makes me wish he had DnD group I could join

@hinotefanatic

4 ай бұрын

I hate the jarring shift in the middle.

Hey John, I just wanted to say thank you for your service and thank you for finding yourself a new and better life through your channels. I'm sure there are folks like myself who look forward to tuning in and are also wishing you nothing but the best. My life would not be the same if I did not have good content to listen to while working. You are a good man, good father, and good storyteller. From all of us subscribers here for MrBallen Studios, we love you, man! Keep up the good work. Side note: Please take time to find more heroic or mysterious military related stories, I know you have a huge military and military family following

@Capt_OscarMike

4 ай бұрын

Amen Brother...Well Said!!!

Best channel I ever subscribed too been watching since 2020

I'm pretty sure an animated adventures of Mr. Ballen and Seagull Lung series would be epic.

@Izzy-xe7tn

4 ай бұрын

100% would watch 😂

@terriaki1273

4 ай бұрын

​@@Izzy-xe7tnme too!!

@christinestephens964

4 ай бұрын

Awesome idea😊

@travismosier4936

4 ай бұрын

Please let this come true!!!

@tinamarie7568

4 ай бұрын

I remember a frog or something whose character emerged around the same time. He and the like button should be on it too

Mr. Ballen just tells stories better. The hand motions, facial expressions, and images he presents just make the tales feel so much more immersive and fun. Keep up the good work!

@GingerBreadMan144

4 ай бұрын

I agree. His medical mysteries on Spotify are pretty good too though they do unfortunately lack the visuals we get on KZread. I actually quite enjoy watching him tell stories and show pictures as he's going through. I've tried "bedtime stories", and "run, fool" but I just can't do it. I found the first episodes of both were really boring and I really didn't like the voices of the storytellers. They're just not the same as John's story telling. John has set a standard that I just can't go below listening to others 😂.

@maryeckel9682

4 ай бұрын

He has a really good voice, too. Clear, with a good speaking range, but not actor-y.

@GingerBreadMan144

4 ай бұрын

@@maryeckel9682 Yes! It flows nicely and sounds very genuine. It's because he really immerses his entire self into the stories before and as he's telling them!

Any episode with a Seagull lung story is pure gold.

Horrible things told in a great way. Your story telling abilities are awesome.

I automatically click the like button before even listening to the stories. On another note, Mike's story was so saddening, to be in such agonizing pain for so long, and I feel extra bad for his dad who just wanted him to be safe.

@war.room.strategist

4 ай бұрын

You did it wrong you were supposed to invite the like button on a camping trip to Mt. St. Helen and drop kick it into a the volcano

Mr. Ballen, your “PEOW!!!” during your Draft Kings ad just made my freaking weekend. I busted out laughing and scared the crap out of my cat. Epic! 😂😂😂❤

@A_Stereotypical_Guy

4 ай бұрын

GILF!!!

@ShrodingersHat

4 ай бұрын

Hahahaha same, omg. That was hilarious 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

@Mindy-lr4xh

4 ай бұрын

Same for me. I jumped, the 2 cats jumped on the littlest one bit my nose and ran off. She always does that when startled.

Some pretty interesting stuff.good job.

Mr Ballen you're a natural my man!! 😂 I've been watching you for awhile now and you have never failed me. Great job with everything you do brother.

Hes helping me through recovery. I'm so glad he's around.

@weaviejeebies

4 ай бұрын

I wish you all the best. Hang in there and be proud of yourself. Mr. Ballen is my go-to for depression. I think the strange, dark, and mysterious has a healing vibe.

@rayjones95

4 ай бұрын

Best Wishes Ma'am nn

I love your videos! I am blind, and you are very detailed when you tell your stories because I am able to visualize what’s happening thank you ☺️

@welsh.truth.dragon3914

4 ай бұрын

Hes amazing isn't he ❤

you are the shizit mr ballen,dont you ever change a thing about you doing yer thing.i was having a bad day till i watched you n lung ty 4 the yucks its what i was needing ty.keep it up.

Yes! I love this series!! We need more of places you cant go....

This is one of the first times your stories have truly shattered me a bit. He deserved so much better so much faster.

Mr Ballen is the best storyteller ever!

@jhaber.2024..

4 ай бұрын

Facts

@Iamthebiggestbird

4 ай бұрын

Og

@jeffnikee9505

4 ай бұрын

The greatest! 💯

@Ilovebutterflies.

4 ай бұрын

Absolutely ❤

@deathkampdrone

4 ай бұрын

you're not wrong