'More like a carpeted ladder': The terrifying death stairs found inside homes

Traversing the various levels of your own home or someone else’s shouldn’t be seen as a daring challenge.

But a Facebook page reportedly originally set up as a private joke amongst a group of friends has gone viral as members of the public rush to post their own versions of “death stairs” found inside and outside homes.

The Death Stairs Facebook page has 832,000 members but anyone can tag the group in a post about the “deadliest staircases” they encounter for a chance to appear on the page.

A recent post offered a good example of what constitutes death stairs inside the home.

“I came across some death stairs in my friend’s new house…” someone wrote.

“They are more like a carpeted ladder … thongs are not the best footwear for these.”

The accompanying images showing her feet overhanging the narrow stair treads drew a big reaction from commenters. “Carpeted ladder,” wrote one, while another said, “Probably best to go down backwards, especially if you got large feet.”

Other posts pointed to a litany of dangers, including stairs that were too narrow or too steep, or were difficult to see due to the flooring choice.

There were staircases that protruded into a room or had no handrail.

Others were examples of deliberate attempts to make a bold design choice.

One poster who identified himself as an architect and designer on his Instagram page said he was ‘proud’ of a ‘special project’ he created as a feature in his home and ‘couldn’t resist’ posting a photo before a handrail goes in.

However,  most felt a handrail wouldn’t be enough to make it safe.

“Glass stairs held together with Mikado sticks. Hell no!” wrote one. While another said, “Beautiful, but why? Do you have your affairs in order?”

Spiral staircases and open-riser staircases also figured prominently on the Facebook page.

One open-riser staircase in particular drew wrath for its lack of handrail.

Stairs that were made from either glass or another clear material also drew a big response from commenters.

“Am I looking up? Am I looking down? Am I drunk? Am I high? Anything goes here it seems,” wrote one.