Tragic news from Tameside: 12-year-old Oliver Gorman lost his life after a TikTok-inspired ‘Chroming’ challenge went terribly wrong in his bedroom. Returning from a holiday, his family didn’t expect such an unimaginable loss awaiting them.
Just 12 years old, Oliver was a kind-hearted boy who loved animals and had a calming presence. But the TikTok craze, encouraging dangerous behaviours like inhaling aerosols, proved fatal for him. The inquest reveals he was found unresponsive with empty deodorant cans scattered around, and despite his mum’s desperate CPR efforts, Oliver passed away.
The coroner has highlighted grave concerns over these reckless challenges widely circulated on TikTok, calling for stricter measures like improved warning labels and age restrictions on purchasing aerosols.
Heartbroken, Oliver’s mum Clare spoke about the impact of social media, urging parents to be vigilant. “Every teenage boy gets a Lynx set in his stocking at Christmas; that’s what frightens me,” she shared, warning of the darker path casual browsing on social media can lead to.
Oliver had shown signs of struggle, particularly during his transition to secondary school, raising concerns about possible bullying, though no concrete evidence was found. His school reiterated the efforts to keep students safe but acknowledged the challenges posed by social media trends.
As we mourn Oliver’s tragic passing, let’s also take this as a wake-up call about the real dangers of harmful online ‘trends’. Parents, talk to your kids about these risks. Let’s protect our children from the harmful influences lurking online. Oliver’s memory should serve as a beacon for awareness and change. Stay safe.