Looking to quit smoking? Have you ever considered locking your head in a cage like the man from Turkey did? Neither have I.
For those who have tried endlessly to quit smoking or are determined to ensure they never smoke again, the idea of placing your head inside a cage might sound like a drastic measure.
The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that tobacco is responsible for the deaths of approximately eight million people each year.
Of these deaths, seven million are tobacco users, while 1.2 million are non-smokers exposed to second-hand smoke.
In a desperate bid to quit, Ibrahim Yucel opted for a method most people wouldn’t dare try.
He encased his head in a circular cage and entrusted his wife with the only key.
This unusual approach took place in 2013 in the town of Kütahya.
Ary News reported that Yucel chose this method after his father passed away from lung cancer due to smoking.
Yucel, who had been smoking two packs of cigarettes daily for over twenty years, was unable to quit his addiction.
Thus, he decided to take a radical step.
By encasing his head within one.
Inspired by motorcycle helmets, Yucel decided they would provide a good framework for his device.
He then used 130 feet of copper wire to construct a cage, which he equipped with a lock.
Upon completing the cage, he locked his head inside and gave the key to his wife, allowing freedom only during mealtimes.
The small gaps between the copper wire permitted him to drink water through a straw but were too narrow for a cigarette, effectively preventing him from smoking.
Whether this method was successful remains unknown, as there has been little coverage of Yucel and his family since he first donned the helmet.
Reddit users stumbled upon the story and shared humorous insights on whether the cage was an effective way to quit smoking.
One person commented, “You know how they tell children not to put plastic bags over their heads? Big Tobacco propaganda.”
Another quipped, “The nose itch would get me…”
Someone else suggested a workaround: “He can stick a straw in a cigarette butt and smoke from the straw.”
Another user questioned, “There HAS TO BE a better way of doing this.”
Lastly, one joked, “Hangs around the smoking area asking people to breathe on him.”
Though there are various tools available for quitting smoking, such as patches, inhalers, gum, and vapes, perhaps the market is missing out on this unique approach to help people finally break the habit.