Australia’s Ally Langdon struggled to hold back tears while speaking with Andrea and Paul Haynes, whose 13-year-old daughter, Esra, tragically died after engaging in a dangerous social media trend called chroming. Appearing on A Current Affair, the parents recounted the devastating events. Esra, described as “determined, fun, cheeky and talented,” was an accomplished young athlete who co-captained her Montrose Football Netball Club team and led her team to a national aerobics championship.
On March 31, Esra attended a friend’s sleepover and inhaled aerosol deodorant, causing cardiac arrest and irreparable brain damage. Her parents rushed to the hospital, hoping for recovery, but after eight days on life support, they faced the heart-wrenching decision to end her life. “We cuddled her until the end,” Paul said, reliving the pain.
The Haynes family is now focused on raising awareness about chroming, a viral craze involving inhaling household chemicals that can cause seizures, heart attack, or sudden death. Paul urges parents to educate their children directly about the dangers. Since 2009, chroming has claimed multiple young lives in Australia and worldwide. Their story is a heartbreaking reminder of the urgent need for awareness and prevention.
