This week, a disastrous marketing campaign left 20 people injured and seven hospitalised.

To promote its new G2 smartphone, electronics firm LG announced that it would give away vouchers to win the device at a special, public event held in South Korean capital Seoul. However, the plan involved releasing 100 helium balloons into the air with the vouchers attached – requiring each participant to try and grab one to retrieve a voucher. LG did a good job of publicising the event, with many people taking part, but they probably underestimated the appetite people would have for the chance of winning a new phone worth around £550.

Some individuals felt they needed an edge to beat the competition, and turned up with BB guns or sticks with knives taped to them, which they hoped to use for bursting the balloons. People rushed forward to get to the prizes, and one news report likened it to World War Z, a recent film about zombies that surge and charge in large crowds. Unsurprisingly, there were soon dozens of people injured.

LG released a statement saying: “LG Electronics deeply regrets that a number of Korean participants were injured during an outdoor promotional event in Seoul, Korea … although none of the injuries were serious, LG takes full responsibility for the unfortunate situation and has offered to cover all related medical expenses.”

The firm has now cancelled a series of other events that were planned to promote the G2. No doubt LG will also be thinking twice about its plans any future PR stunts.