A coroner has urged for significant changes following the tragic death of a 12-year-old boy who participated in a risky social media trend called Chroming, which was popular on TikTok, as revealed in an inquest. Young Oliver Gorman was found unresponsive in his bedroom on May 5 after returning home from a family vacation in Hyde.
Despite immediate medical attention, Oliver could not be saved. His room contained several empty deodorant cans, and a post-mortem examination confirmed that he passed away due to inhaling butane gas, a common propellant in aerosol deodorants.
The coroner has expressed serious concerns about the proliferation of such challenges on TikTok, criticizing the platform for easily disseminating these trends to vulnerable young people. There have been calls for enhanced warning labels and potential age restrictions on purchasing aerosol deodorants in light of this tragedy.
Oliver’s mother, Clare Gillespie, described him as a kind and family-oriented boy with a love for animals and a calming presence. The inquest revealed that Oliver, who was in his first year at Denton Community Academy, may have struggled with the transition to high school.
Authorities mentioned that there were indications of potential bullying, but no concrete evidence was found. The family had informed the school that Oliver would not be returning after the break. Investigations also noted the presence of empty deodorant bottles in Oliver’s room and the possible link to the TikTok trend of Chroming.
The coroner emphasized the need for stricter regulations on aerosol purchases and raised concerns about the influence of social media platforms like TikTok on vulnerable individuals. Following Oliver’s untimely death, his family and friends initiated a campaign called Oliver’s Awareness to raise awareness about bullying and cyberbullying. Oliver’s mother emphasized the urgency of educating parents about the dangers of aerosols and social media trends.
In a post-inquest statement, Ms. Gillespie expressed shock at how quickly the incident occurred and urged parents to be cautious about such products.
