A 12-year-old schoolboy has tragically passed away after attempting to recreate a scene from the hit Netflix series Squid Game.
Sebastian Cizman was found hanging at his home in Castleford on June 27 and was later pronounced dead in hospital.
His sudden death has been ruled an accidental tragedy, with investigators suggesting it may have been the result of a dangerous imitation of a Squid Game scene.
According to The Sun, Sebastian's family had been worried about the dangers of online challenges, especially those circulating on apps like TikTok and Snapchat, and had warned him not to engage in such activities.
While police found no direct evidence of the young boy participating in any dangerous challenges, they discovered an image on Sebastian’s phone of a Squid Game character hanging, which he had shared in a WhatsApp group.
Detective Sergeant Paul Bayliss, who investigated the incident, said there was no conclusive evidence linking the death to online challenges; however, the image and Sebastian’s known “prankster nature” provided a possible explanation for the tragedy.
In addition to this, the inquest also disclosed that Sebastian had searched YouTube for a video about “surviving choking alone".
Family's Shock and Heartbreak
Sebastian’s parents, Marcin and Katarzyna Cizman, described their son as a happy and healthy child with no history of mental health issues.
They believe his death was the result of a tragic accident, with his parents expressing disbelief that he would have intentionally harmed himself.
Family friend Agnieszka Czerniejewska shared that Sebastian was "a boy full of dreams, passion, and incredible talent," adding: "He taught himself to play the guitar and keyboard, and he loved to draw. Always smiling, kind, and full of joy - everyone who met him was touched by his gentle spirit," per ITV.
"He had loving parents who did everything they could to give him a safe and happy childhood. They would have given him the stars. Sadly, one brief moment changed everything," she said.
Headteacher Dr. Philip Dore from St Wilfred’s Catholic High School also paid tribute to the 12-year-old, calling him a popular, funny pupil who was known for making his classmates laugh.
Sebastian had been a form rep and had previously been named “star of the class,” with over 200 positive comments from staff.
After hearing from family, friends, and investigators, Assistant Coroner John Hobson concluded that Sebastian’s death was caused by misadventure, a deliberate act that unintentionally went tragically wrong, ITV reported.
Czerniejewska has urged parents to "talk to your children about what they do online," adding: "The online world can be as dangerous as the real one - sometimes even more so."
Our thoughts are with Sebastian's loved ones at this time.