Khaberni - A 12-year-old British boy died after participating in a dangerous challenge that spread through the "TikTok" app known as "Chroming," which involves inhaling spray deodorants or chemical substances to achieve a temporary euphoric feeling.
According to British media reports, the child, Oliver Gorman, was found dead in his room at his family's home in Hyde, Greater Manchester, on the evening of May 5th, after returning from a short holiday in Wales.
Investigations revealed that his death was due to inhaling butane gas found in deodorant cans.
The child's mother, Claire Gillespie, stated during the inquest held yesterday in South Manchester Court that her son was "friendly and loving to his family," suggesting that he might have tried the internet spread challenge without realizing its dangers, confirming that he did not intend to harm himself.
The mother added that Oliver was struggling to adjust after moving from primary to secondary school, and she had noticed a change in his behavior recently, with concerns about him being bullied.
In turn, the investigating police officer confirmed that several empty deodorant cans were found in the child's room, indicating that this was the first death case he had seen during his over 20 years of service due to inhaling deodorant.
The challenge that led to the child's death is known as "Chroming," a dangerous practice spreading among teenagers through social media, which involves inhaling compressed gas inside spray cans such as deodorants, air fresheners, and hair sprays, and not just inhaling the scent.
This gas contains substances like butane and propane that induce a temporary feeling of euphoria, but are in fact toxic substances that can lead to suffocation and severe disturbances in heart rhythms, potentially causing immediate death even after the first experience due to what is medically known as "sudden sniffing death syndrome."
Meanwhile, Judge Andrew Bridgman, the assistant coroner, expressed serious concern about the spread of such challenges through social media, accusing the "TikTok" platform of facilitating access to dangerous content targeting children and teenagers.
He called for imposing age restrictions on the purchase of aerosol deodorants, along with placing clear warnings on their containers.
Bridgman recorded the cause of death as an "accident resulting from misjudgment," clarifying that there was no indication of suicidal intent.
Following the incident, the child's family launched an awareness campaign named "Oliver's Awareness," aiming to warn about the dangers of bullying, unsafe use of social media sites, and the dangerous challenges prevalent among teenagers.
