PM's son named 'New Zealand's top planker'

By Agence France-Presse | Updated: 5 June 2012 02:06 IST

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Highlights

New Zealand Prime Minister's son was named the country's "top planker"

New Zealand Prime Minister John Key's son was named the country's "top planker" Tuesday after a photo appeared online apparently showing him performing the Internet craze as his father looked on.

The New Zealand Herald said the grainy picture of Max Key planking on the back of a couch in the prime ministerial residence appeared on the "Planking New Zealand" Facebook page this week, causing a stir among Internet users.

In a front-page headline, it declared the 16-year-old "NZ's top planker" but noted the prime minister himself had not personally performed the stunt.

Planking involves someone lying flat on their stomach with their arms against their bodies in unusual and sometimes dangerous situations, with photos of their exploits posted on social media sites.

The fad has been linked with at least one fatality in Australia, when a man was killed in Brisbane earlier this month after plummeting to his death while attempting to "plank" on a seven-storey balcony.

Another Australian was left in a coma after reportedly planking on the roof of a moving vehicle and Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard has warned the craze could have tragic consequences.

The Planking New Zealand page has attracted almost 13,000 "likes" on Facebook, with reaction to Key's appearance ranging from "Epic!" to "what a plank".

Key's office told Fairfax media the prime minister had "more important" things to do than comment on the photo.

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