Devastated Parents Issue Urgent Warning Following Their Daughter’s Tragic Death from Chroming.
Her parents have shared that the haunting image of their daughter after the incident will stay with them for the rest of their lives.
Two grieving parents from Australia are calling for significant changes after their daughter tragically lost her life while taking part in a popular trend.
In 2023, 13-year-old Esra Haynes attended a friend’s sleepover and took part in a dangerous practice known as “chroming.”
Since then, her parents have turned to social media to advocate for change, believing their daughter was tragically influenced by the harmful trend.
This dangerous trend involves inhaling harmful chemicals from a deodorant can to achieve a brief but intense high.
While attending a sleepover with a friend, 13-year-old Esra, a student at Lilydale High School in Melbourne, suffered a cardiac arrest. She was rushed to the hospital, where her parents were told that the brain damage she sustained was irreversible.
The tragic incident occurred in March 2023. In an emotional interview with A Current Affair, her parents, Paul and Andrea Haynes, shared their heartbreaking story and called for the deodorant industry and social media platforms to take stronger actions to prevent such tragedies.
Paul passionately expressed, “For me, it’s a pistol sitting on the shelf,” highlighting the dangerous potential of easily accessible products.
He stressed that manufacturers must take responsibility by making essential changes, whether that means altering the formulation of the products or adjusting the propellants used.
Additionally, Paul emphasized the urgent need for stricter monitoring of social media platforms, believing that Esra was introduced to the harmful trend through online content.
Most importantly, the Haynes family is committed to opening a conversation about the dangers of chroming, urging families and children to be aware of the serious consequences it can have.
Paul expressed, “Kids do not look beyond the next day; in all honesty, they do not,” emphasizing that young people often fail to recognize the long-term consequences of their actions.
He added that had Esra known the severe repercussions of chroming, she would never have participated in it.
His wife, Andrea, poignantly shared, “The repercussions of this are absolutely devastating.”
“We’ve got no child to bring home or anything,” she said, highlighting the profound, irreparable loss they now face.
Paul concluded, “We need to talk about it,” emphasizing the importance of raising awareness about the dangers of chroming.
He added, “Her name meant helper, so that’s what we’re here to do” — reflecting their commitment to preventing other families from experiencing the same pain.
Recalling the moment they learned of their daughter’s grave condition, Andrea shared, “It was just the regular routine of going to hang out with her mates,” describing the shock and disbelief they felt as they learned their daughter’s life was in danger.
Paul explained, “We always knew her whereabouts and who she was spending time with. It was just a normal day, nothing seemed unusual.”
He continued, “Receiving that phone call late at night was every parent’s worst nightmare—one we never imagined we’d have to face. But unfortunately, we did: ‘Come and get your daughter.’”
“We’ve got the pictures in our mind which will never be erased, you know, of what we were confronted with,” Paul shared, reflecting on the traumatic moment.
When they arrived, paramedics were desperately trying to save Esra’s life. They informed Andrea that Esra had been participating in a dangerous trend where individuals inhale chemicals from aerosol deodorant cans to experience a quick high.
This practice, especially common among teenagers, often goes unnoticed by many who may not fully grasp the serious and immediate risks involved.
Esra was found unresponsive and rushed to the hospital, where she was placed on life support.
After eight agonizing days, her parents were forced to make the heartbreaking decision to turn off the machines, as doctors confirmed that her brain had suffered irreversible damage.
Paul continued, “They are requesting that we bring our family and friends to say our final goodbyes to our daughter, who is 13 years old.”
Dealing with the loss of such a young soul was an incredibly difficult and painful experience for the family.
Esra’s older siblings—Imogen, Seth, and Charlie—who “cuddled her until the end,” were deeply affected by the tragedy, which devastated the entire family.
Sadly, this heartbreaking incident is not an isolated one, as similar occurrences continue to affect families in the same way.
In 2019, a 16-year-old child in New South Wales tragically lost his life from inhaling aerosols.
In 2021, a young girl from Queensland suffered brain damage as a result of chroming.
The alarming rise in thefts and concerns about the misuse of deodorant cans have led some stores to take the drastic step of locking up their deodorant cans to prevent further harm.
Schools and regional education departments, along with medical experts, are actively working to educate children about the dangers of chroming and raise awareness about its potentially life-threatening consequences.