A heartrending appeal comes from two bereaved parents, Paul and Andrea Haynes, who are coming to terms with the shocking demise of their teenage daughter. Speaking to the Herald Sun, Paul emphasizes the pressing need to shield young minds from the ill-conceived allure of dangerous online challenges, even as the couple grapples with their irreplaceable loss.
Their precious daughter was lost to them in a shocking, unthinkable manner, proving that no amount of guidance is foolproof against the malevolent influences that can ensnare innocent, unsuspecting children. They are now left to mourn their vibrant child, who had her whole life ahead of her but was cruelly taken away by an insidious social media trend.
Andrea Haynes remembers her late daughter with a heavy heart, praising her as a lively, charismatic individual with an infectious spirit and a big heart.
According to a Fox News report, the unfortunate incident took place during a sleepover at a friend’s house, where Esra Haynes, a Melbourne native, suddenly experienced a cardiac arrest.
Initially, her friends mistook her symptoms for a panic attack, as reported by the Australian News program “A Current Affair.” However, the grim reality was far worse.
Esra was inhaling toxic fumes from a deodorant can, a hazardous act that ultimately led to her bodily functions shutting down. Despite being rushed to the hospital and kept on life support for over a week, her condition did not improve.
Doctors concluded that her brain damage was irreversible, leaving the family with the agonizing decision to remove her from life support.
Recounting the heartrending moment of saying their final goodbyes, Paul Haynes told “A Current Affair,” that they were able to lay with Esra in her final moments, holding her close until the very end.
The deadly internet challenge that Esra succumbed to is known as “chroming,” a fatal TikTok trend. This hazardous trend has claimed the lives of two other teenagers in 2019, as reported by The Straits Times.
The essence of chroming lies in inhaling harmful chemicals, found in common household items such as aerosol cans, metallic paints, and deodorants, among others, to achieve a momentary high, according to the National Post.
Fox News suggests that this appears to be an adaptation of an age-old trend of huffing or sniffing, taking a more sinister form in the digital age.
In a call to action, Paul Haynes urged aerosol manufacturers to reformulate their products, comparing the potential danger to leaving a loaded gun on the shelf. He insists on the need for manufacturers to take responsibility and modify their products to avoid future catastrophes.
The grieving family wishes for every school to provide CPR training and implores parents to maintain vigilant oversight of their children’s social media activities. This incident serves as a chilling reminder of the insidious threats lurking within seemingly innocent internet trends and the urgent need for proactive parental intervention.
WATCH the video below for more details:
Sources: TheGatewayPundit, NationalPost, StraightTimes