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A TikTok boat jumping challenge that sees people jump from the rear of the vessels while moving at high speed has been blamed for four deaths in Alabama.

The challenge, which has been popularized on TikTok, involves individuals engaging in dangerous water activities.

Those participating in the challenge launch themselves from the rear of a boat and into the wake behind it, as the boat continues to move.

Now, officials in Alabama have said the new fad has claimed the lives of four people, after they broke their necks instantly.

Officials said in the last six months, they had to deal with four drownings that were 'easily avoidable'.

Captain Jim Dennis with the Childersburg Rescue Squad told WPDE said: 'Last six months we have had four drownings that were easily avoidable.

'They were doing a TikTok challenge. It's where you get in a boat going at a high rate of speed, you jump off the side of the boat, don't dive, you're jumping off feet first and you just kinda lean into the water.

'The four that we responded to when they jumped out of the boat, they literally broke their neck and, you know, basically an instant death.'

Capt. Dennis continued: 'I think people, if they're being filmed on camera, I think they're more likely to do something stupid because they want to show off in front of their friends for social media.

He said one incident was in February when the victim was a father with his three children, wife, and other loved ones in the boat - with his death being recorded.

WPDE said the most recent incident in Alabama occurred in May and involved a middle-aged man.

TikTok footage of the craze shows people throwing themselves from the rear of fast moving boats into white water.