Heartbroken Parents Issue Urgent Warning After 13-Year-Old Daughter Dies From Chroming

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The heartbroken parents of a teenage girl who died after taking part in a chroming trend have issued a warning to others. 

Esra Haynes, 13, was at a sleepover in Melbourne, Australia, in March 2023 when tragedy unfolded.

The teen’s parents, Andrea and Paul, told A Current Affair: “It was just the regular routine of going to hang out with her mates.

“We always knew where she was and we knew who she was with. It wasn’t anything out of the ordinary.”

But later that night, Esra’s parents were told they needed to come and get their daughter.

By the time emergency services became involved, the teenager was unresponsive.

She was rushed to the hospital and placed on life support as doctors fought to save her.

A normal sleepover turned into tragedy

Esra’s family initially hoped she would recover.

For more than a week, they remained by her side as she fought for her life in hospital.

The 13-year-old spent around a week and a half on life support while doctors assessed the extent of the damage she had suffered.

At first, her parents tried to stay optimistic.

But their hope was shattered when doctors told the family that Esra’s brain had been damaged beyond repair.

The news forced Andrea and Paul into an unimaginable position.

They had to make the heartbreaking decision to turn off their daughter’s life support.

Speaking about the moment, Paul said: “They’re asking us to bring family, friends to say goodbye to our 13-year-old daughter.

“It was a very, very difficult thing to do to such a young soul.”

Esra’s parents and siblings stayed with her until the very end.

Her family later said they ‘cuddled her until the end,’ describing a final goodbye no family should ever have to face.

Family remembers Esra

Esra was remembered as a much-loved daughter, sister, friend and student whose life was cut devastatingly short.

Those who knew her described her as energetic, kind and full of potential.

She had been a Year 8 student and was involved in sport, with her family saying she had a bright future ahead of her.

Her death left a huge hole in the lives of those closest to her.

For Andrea and Paul, the grief was made even harder by the belief that many families were unaware of the risks linked to the trend their daughter had taken part in.

They said Esra was not a child they ever expected to be caught up in something so dangerous.

Her parents have repeatedly stressed that she was at a normal sleepover, with friends, in a situation that felt familiar and safe.

That is why they are now speaking out.

They want other parents to understand that these incidents can happen quickly, even to children who are loved, supervised and trusted.

Parents begin awareness mission

Following Esra’s death, her family made it clear they did not want another household to experience the same pain.

Paul told the Herald Sun: “It’s unquestionable that this will be our crusade.

“No matter how much you lead a horse to water, anyone can drag them away.

“It’s not something she would have done on her own.”

Esra’s sister Imogen also spoke about the family’s mission to warn others.

“We definitely have a mission to raise awareness for kids and anyone that does it,” she told 7News.

“We don’t want that to happen to anyone else.

“We don’t want another family to go through this, it’s absolutely horrible.”

Her brother Seth added: “I just want to put awareness out there that it can happen very quickly, and we don’t want to lose any more amazing people.”

Since then, the Haynes family has continued calling for greater awareness in schools, homes and online.

They have urged parents to talk openly with their children about dangerous viral trends, even if the subject feels uncomfortable.

They also want young people to understand that experimenting with risky substances or online challenges can have fatal consequences after just one attempt.

Calls for stronger action

Esra’s parents have also called for stronger action around social media and online content aimed at children.

They believe young people are being exposed to dangerous trends too easily and say platforms need to do more to prevent harmful content from spreading.

Paul has previously supported calls for tougher restrictions around children’s access to social media, arguing that young teenagers can be influenced quickly by what they see online or what is shared by friends.

The family believes Esra may have learned about the trend through social media, friends, or both.

Her parents say that is why awareness is so important.

Many adults may not know the language teenagers use online or the risks associated with certain viral challenges until it is too late.

The Haynes family is now encouraging parents to check in with their children, monitor what they are watching, and discuss peer pressure openly.

They also want schools and community groups to educate young people about the dangers before another tragedy occurs.

What chroming is and updates since Esra’s death

Esra’s cause of death was linked to chroming.

Chroming, also known as solvent abuse or inhalant abuse, involves inhaling toxic chemicals from household products to get high.

It can involve products such as aerosol cans, glue, solvents, paint, deodorant or other chemical substances, per Care In Mind.

The practice is extremely dangerous because inhaling these chemicals can affect the brain, heart and lungs almost immediately.

Possible effects include dizziness, confusion, vomiting, drowsiness, loss of coordination, slurred speech, coughing, sneezing, red or watery eyes, ringing in the ears, loss of inhibition, and sudden collapse.

In severe cases, chroming can trigger cardiac arrest, brain damage or death.

Although people of different ages may engage in it, experts warn it is especially concerning among teenagers and young adults because it is often linked to peer pressure, curiosity and online trends.

Since Esra’s death, her family’s warning has continued to spread widely across Australia and overseas.

Reports have also linked other child deaths to similar online inhalant trends, including the death of 11-year-old Tommie-Lee Gracie Billington in the UK.

Esra’s family has continued pushing for awareness, education and stronger protections for children online.

Her parents say they do not want her death to be seen as an isolated tragedy, but as a warning that could save lives.

Their message to other families is simple: talk to children about chroming before they hear about it from someone else.

The Haynes family hopes that by sharing Esra’s story, they can stop another young person from making the same fatal mistake.

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