Coroner sounds warning about 'TikTok challenges' as 'sweet' boy, 12, found dead in his bedroom
Oliver Gorman, 12, was found dead in his bedroom A 'sweet' child died after participating in a social media 'craze' called Chroming, which had been widely shared on TikTok, an inquest has heard.Oliver Gorman, 12, from Tameside near Manchester, was found unresponsive in his bedroom on the evening of May 5 this year, after arriving back from holiday at his family home.He was rushed to hospital but could not be saved. A number of empty deodorant bottles were found in his room, and a post-mortem found he died as a result of the inhalation of butane gas – a propellant found in many aerosol deodorants, reports The Manchester Evening News.A coroner has now raised a 'major concern' about the spread of these so-called challenges on TikTok, and accused the platform of 'disseminating these challenges quite happily' - making them 'easily accessible' to impressionable youngsters.Oliver GormanHe is also calling for better warning labels and potential age restrictions on buying aerosol deodorants following the tragedy.Oliver's mother, Clare Gillespie, described Oliver as a 'sweet' and 'lovely, family boy'. She said he could be a 'typical moody teenager' but that he had a passionate love for animals and a 'really, calming aura about him'.On Thursday, (October 23), an inquest at South Manchester Coroner's Court heard how the family had been away on a family break in Wales and returned on a bank holiday Monday.When they arrived back, Oliver 'said he was tired' and went to his bedroom, the hearing was told.When he didn't respond to his mum's calls, she went upstairs and into his room, where she found him unresponsive. As she tried to rouse him, an empty bottle of Lynx deodorant fell from his bed, the inquest heard.He wasn't breathing, so the emergency services were alerted, and his mum began CPR. Paramedics arrived, and extensive resuscitation attempts continued on the way to the hospital, however they were unsuccessful and Oliver was declared dead at 7.31pm.(Left-to-right) Oliver's brother William, dad Daniel, brother Luke, Oliver, and mum ClareMs Gillespie told the inquest she believed that the transition from primary school to high school was 'too much' for Oliver, who was in his first year at Denton Community Academy. She said he 'kind of went into himself a bit' and that 'you could see something wasn't quite right'.The inquest heard there was 'some concern' from his mum that he was being bullied, after he had confided in his big brother. However, there were 'no specifics', 'no names' and 'nothing concrete', the inquest was told.On the Friday before the family went away, Ms Gillespie went into the school and informed them he wouldn't be coming back into school after the break, it was heard.Detective Inspector Ian Parker said officers had been unable to gain access to Oliver's electronic devices other than an Oculus headset, where nothing other than 'banter' was found.The officer said of the alleged bullying: "My impression was it was words, very harsh words based on physicality, how he looked, that kind of thing." However, he said they 'never got to the bottom of it'.Denton Community Academy Principal, Donald Cumming, said that 'if there had been names we would have been able to act immediately' but that without them, the school were in a 'really difficult position'.He said during enquiries with Oliver's peers after the tragedy, there was reference to 'name-calling' which 'seemed to be around computer games' but that 'none of them mentioned bullying' and that there was 'nothing to suggest anything untoward.'The hearing heard of a TikTok challenge known as 'Huffing'Mr Cumming said there were 'lots and lots of challenges on TikTok which young people are exposed to' and that it was a 'constant battle to make them aware and keep them safe'. "Waves of TikTok trends come and go" he added.The hearing was told people had been known to 'get a high from inhaling the contents' of aerosols.A number of empty Lynx and Aldi own-brand aerosol deodorant bottles were found in Oliver's room following the tragedy.Detective Sergeant Kate Dawson from Greater Manchester Police (GMP) said she was aware of people previously abusing deodorants, but never previously a child and that in her 23 years as a police officer, 'it is the first time I have been aware of someone dying from this'.Speaking about 'Chroming', Det Insp Parker said: "I have been made aware it's something on TikTok. I believe, for whatever reason, people demonstrate this practice and broadcast it on that format." The hearing was told it can also be referred to as 'Huffing'.The pathologist who carried out Oliver's post-mortem said that Butane gas can cause cardiac issues and that 'these may be fatal.'The inquest heard it wasn't known if Oliver was on TikTok himself, or where he had become aware of the 'craze.' It was also not known if it was the first time he had attempted it.Ms Gillespie said her son may have 'felt low'. "I have no idea if he did that to escape. I have no idea, and that hurts me," she said.However, she continued: "I don't believe he did it to take his life. I don't think he had the balls to do that. I think it was something that had gone terribly wrong.""'I can't solely blame a bully, I can't solely blame TikTok," she added.Ms Gillespie said youngsters could 'start by watching TikTok videos about local bands and such like' but that it could then 'lead you down a dark road and causes these children to watch these videos'."I wouldn't want any other parent to go through what we have been through," she said. "Every teenage boy gets a Lynx set in his stocking at Christmas, that's what frightens me."Assistant Coroner Andrew Bridgman recorded a conclusion of misadventure. He said Oliver 'must have been feeling a bit low' but that there was 'no evidence' to 'suggest he deliberately inhaled the aerosol with the intention of ending his own life.'"It strikes me that... this 'Chroming' comes from TikTok challenges," he said. He said 'when or how Oliver became aware of this recreational enjoyment, I don't know.'However, the coroner said it was 'quite frightening what's put out there on social media which affects the young minds of people such as Oliver'. Mr Bridgman said he was going to write a number of Prevention of Future Deaths reports.He said he believed the warning labels on the deodorant bottles were 'inadequate'. They state that 'Solvent abuse can kill instantly' but Mr Bridgman said they were 'small' and 'lost in all the other information on the bottle', pointing out that butane was a propellant, not a solvent.He said he would be writing to the British Aerosol Manufacturing Association with his concerns. He said they had previously been written to after the death of a young girl and had 'said they would consider, but don't appear to have yet amended' the warnings.Mr Bridgman said you had to be aged 18 to purchase solvents and aged 16 to purchase aerosol spray paints. And he said he would now write to the Business Secretary as he could 'see no reason why you should be able to purchase potentially lethal aerosol sprays younger than 16 years old'.The coroner also said he will contact the Culture Secretary with a 'major concern' over TikTok. He said: "TikTok is a Chinese company that disseminates these challenges quite happily, without any regard to the well-being of those who subscribe to it."It concerns me that these life-threatening challenges that go out on TikTok are easily accessible."Following his death, a campaign was launched by his family and their friends called Oliver's Awareness, firstly raising awareness about bullying and cyberbullying. Oliver's mum Ms Gillespie said she now hoped to raise awareness of social media crazes and the dangers of aerosols.Speaking to the media following the hearing, Ms Gillespie said: "He had just 20 minutes in his bedroom and he was gone."I didn't know it could kill you, especially that quickly."She urged parents: "Just don't buy them."Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest news from the Irish Mirror direct to your inbox: Sign up here.Follow the 2025 presidential race every step of the way with our politics newsletterThe Irish Mirror will be following the Irish presidential race every step of the way. Sign up here for our politics newsletter, Party Lines, and get news, analysis and top stories from the campaign trail direct to your inbox.
