In a heart-wrenching interview, Australian journalist Ally Langdon spoke with Andrea and Paul Haynes, who had to make the devastating decision to end the life of their 13-year-old daughter, Esra. The young girl fell victim to the dangerous trend of “chroming,” a deadly chemical inhalation craze popularized on social media.
Esra was a talented young athlete, known for racing BMX bikes and co-captaining the Montrose Football Netball Club. Described by her teammates as determined, fun, cheeky, and talented, she had even led her team to a national aerobics championship.
Tragically, during a sleepover at a friend’s house on March 31, Esra sought a lethal high by sniffing an aerosol deodorant can. This led to her suffering a cardiac arrest and permanent brain damage.
“We always knew where she was and who she was with,” her father Paul shared. “To get that phone call at that time of night was one of the calls no parent ever wants to receive.”
Esra’s companions initially believed she was having a panic attack. However, after inhaling the deodorant, her body began to shut down. No one at the sleepover recognized the signs of a cardiac arrest.
When Esra’s mother Andrea arrived at the scene, her daughter was being revived. It was then that the paramedics informed her about chroming, something she had never heard of before.
Despite rushing Esra to the hospital with hopes of a full recovery, her brain injury was beyond repair. After eight days on life support, her devastated parents made the heartbreaking decision to turn off the machine.
“It was a very, very difficult thing to do to such a young soul,” Esra’s dad expressed. “But it’s not just affected us, it’s the community as well.”
Esra’s tragic story serves as a solemn reminder of the dangers lurking on social media trends. Chroming, a deadly viral craze among teenagers, can be easily achieved with household items like deodorant, paint, hairspray, or even permanent markers.
The grieving parents, who had never heard of chroming before their daughter’s death, are now dedicated to raising awareness about this dangerous trend. They want parents to educate themselves and have open conversations with their children.
“If we were educated and the word had been put out there, we would have had the discussion around our kitchen table for sure,” Paul lamented. “We need to ramp it up and let these kids find out the information firsthand.”
By sharing Esra’s story and spreading awareness about the risks of chroming, we can help parents protect their children and prevent further tragedies. Let us unite in supporting the Haynes family and all those who have lost loved ones to this terrible trend.
