Mum warns about dangers of Tik Tok 'chroming' craze after death of 11-year-old Lancaster boy

Wednesday, 6 March 2024 19:13

By Greg Lambert @greglam72

A heartbroken mum has warned about the dangers of a Tik Tok craze after the death of an 11-year-old boy from Lancaster.

Tommie-lee Gracie Billington died on Saturday after he took part in a challenge on social media platform Tik Tok called 'chroming'.

Local schools have also warned of the dangers of the Chroming Challenge after Tommie-lee's tragic death.

Chroming involves inhaling fumes from a toxic source to get an immediate short-term high.

Challengers record themselves and post the videos to Tik Tok using the hashtag 'WhipTok' or 'Chroming'.

But the craze can lead to severe health complications resulting in permanent damage to organs and even death.

Posting on Facebook, Tommie-lee's mum Sherri said: "Please please please hide all deodorants from your children.

"This cost my son his life from trying something other kids are doing.

"Please talk to your children about the consequences of this. I have no idea how this even came about for children to try."

Tommie-lee's grandmother Tina posted that he had been "taken from us in an instant due to the Tik Tok craze Chroming".

"Please get your children off Tik Tok and off social media. Put every single parental setting on their phones/ipads etc and check EVERYTHING that they are looking at!"

Bowerham Primary School in Lancaster posted on Facebook: "As you may be aware, a Year 6 pupil from a local Lancaster school sadly died on Saturday after taking part in a Tik Tok challenge called ‘The Chroming Challenge’, also referred to as 'Huffing'.

"His tragic death has sent waves of sadness across the local community, and has caused devastation to his family. His family has expressed a need for all primary school children to be educated against the dangers of aerosol abuse and the peer pressure that our children face when using Tik Tok or other social media platforms.

"We will be doing work with the children on the dangers of this and we are also asking you to have a conversation with your children regarding this trend in the hope that we, as educators, can help to prevent any further loss of precious life.

"We will also be posting a link to a YouTube video on our stories and Facebook which may be helpful in explaining the dangers of this trend."

Poulton le Sands Primary School in Morecambe posted this message on Wednesday.

"We have become aware of something called the Chroming Challenge on TikTok where children are encouraged to inhale fumes from aerosols, solvents etc.

"They either spray it into a bag and inhale or directly inhale the substance.

"This has led to the tragic death of a Y6 child in Lancaster.

"We have spoken to our older children in school about the danger of this but wanted to make all parents aware of this dangerous 'game'."

A fundraiser set up to help with funeral expenses has so far raised more than £2,500.

You can find the fundraising page here.

A spokesperson for Lancashire Police said they were called to an address on Greenset Close by the ambulance service at 12.04pm on Saturday.

Tommie-lee was unresponsive and was later pronounced dead.

'The death is currently being treated as unexplained and the Coroner has been informed," said the spokesperson.

"A police investigation is ongoing and the boy’s family are being supported by officers and our thoughts are with the boy’s loved ones at this incredibly sad time.

"If anyone has any information they are asked to contact Police on 101 Log 0527 of March 2."

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