They might look like the perfect summer staple, but the viral £25.99 'Zara death trousers' are landing shoppers in hospital with suspected broken ribs and fractured elbows11:27, 30 Jul 2026Updated 11:28, 30 Jul 2026Trying on Zara's danger trousersLong, flowy and comfortable - these sound like the perfect adjectives for a pair of summery trousers. That's exactly what I thought, until I started seeing videos reviewing a certain £25.99 pair from Zara that have earned a terrifying nickname across social media: the 'Zara death trousers.'‌These trendy, wide-leg trousers don't just promise cool-girl style - shoppers claim they also come with a risk of fractured elbows, broken ribs and gashing wounds.‌On TikTok, hundreds of videos have emerged from women warning others about falling victim to the viral garment. Victims have shared horror stories ranging from ending in an ambulance during their work commute to having their trousers swallowed by a tube station escalator.‌Curious to see why a pair of trousers could have such a lethal reputation, I headed to Zara to get my hands on them. If I hadn't known about the horror stories, I wouldn't have thought twice about buying them.With breathable fabric, a loose fit, and an elasticated waistband (perfect for overindulging at a BBQ) they seem like a perfect summer staple. However, at just 5'3, I usually have to get my trousers hemmed, so I expected them to be too long. But these were seriously long.‌I was dragging about an inch of excess fabric on the floor - creating a major trip hazard. The material is so slippery that the wide legs rub together as you walk, making them catch easily. Walking upstairs, I stood on the hem, pulling the waistband down.When I attempted a quick stroll down my street, I tripped over the fabric myself, confirming that these trousers are a disaster waiting to happen.I spoke to 34-year-old Lauren Hunter, from Cumbria, who ended up with suspected broken ribs after wearing hers. On her way to meet her mum for lunch, a gust of wind caught the loose fabric, causing her to crash into the pavement.‌Content cannot be displayed without consentLauren, from Cumbria told Daily Mirror: "It happened right outside my work crossing the road - luckily none of my colleagues saw!"It was a breezy day and the wind caught the wide-leg' part of the trousers. My sandals got caught in them, causing me to fall flat on my face in the middle of the road. Luckily a woman came rushing over to help me up."‌Lauren landed heavily on her handbag, cracking her ribs and suffering cuts to her knees, hands, and nose.‌"I went to the doctor the following day as my ribs were in agony and I couldn’t get out of bed without help," she added. "They then told me they suspected I had broken my rib. It was very embarrassing, though I laughed it off at the time."It took her three weeks to recover, and she has vowed not to wear the trousers again.Lauren isn't alone. Another shopper, Bev Finch from Essex, needed two operations, a metal plate and screws fitted after a similar fall.‌"I was walking to the dentist when the trousers wrapped around my trainers and took my feet clean away," Bev recalled. "I fell face-down onto concrete in the middle of a pedestrian crossing with cars approaching.Bleeding heavily, and left with a swollen lip, Bev was helped up by three strangers.Article continues below"At that point, I had no idea my arm was severely broken because the shock and adrenalin had kicked in. At the hospital, they discovered I had a displaced complex fracture of the elbow which needed operating on."Two years later, Bev is still recovering from the physical pain and trauma of the fall. Physiotherapist Harvey Slade, a sports injury specialist at The Rehab Coach, explained trips like these frequently lead to severe upper-body injuries. He said: "We have lots of shoulder injuries where people put their arms out to save themselves from hitting their face. They end up with cartilage damage to the shoulder joint." To help prevent falls, Harvey recommends working on balance and proprioception- the body's ability to sense its position in space. But for most shoppers, the simplest solution might just be getting the hem taken up before heading out the door. Zara has been approached for comment.