A 12-year-old boy has tragically died after reportedly taking part in a dangerous social media challenge known as the “blackout challenge".
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West Yorkshire Police confirmed that a boy died in Castleford, England, on Friday, June 27, according to local outlet Yorkshire Live.
“Police were called by ambulance colleagues to an address in Manor Grove, Castleford, at 6:06 p.m. [on June 27] following reports of concern for the safety of a child,” police said in a statement to the outlet.
“Officers attended the location and the boy was taken to hospital, where it was later confirmed that he had died. Enquiries are ongoing on behalf of the West Yorkshire Coroner to establish exactly what happened. The incident is not being treated as suspicious,” the statement continued.
The boy's father believes his son was taking part in the “blackout challenge,” which involves participants deliberately choking themselves, often with a scarf, to deprive their brain of oxygen.
The Independent reported in 2022 that at least 20 deaths had been linked to the challenge within 18 months, with 15 of the victims being 12 or younger.
According to loved ones, the 12-year-old - named Sebastian - had been celebrating his little brother’s first holy communion on the day he was found unresponsive.
A GoFundMe campaign has been launched by organizer Agnieszka Czerniejewska. The fundraiser was created to help cover funeral expenses, psychological support, and loss of earnings for the family, and has raised over $4,100 so far.
“Sebastian lost his life because of an online challenge,” Czerniejewska continued, specifically referencing the blackout challenge. “His parents gave him all the love and care in the world - but that one moment online changed everything.”
The page described Sebastian as “only 12 years old. A boy full of dreams, passion, and incredible talent. 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".
“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,” the campaign continued. “What happened is a tragedy beyond words. No parent should ever have to bury their child. No one should ever endure such heartbreak.”
The fundraiser also warned parents of the dangers of social media, urging them to “talk to your children about what they do online".
“Ask what they watch, who they talk to, what inspires them. Be present. Don’t assume: ‘My child would never do that.’ The online world can be as dangerous as the real one - sometimes even more so,” Czerniejewska wrote.
“Let [Sebastian’s death] be a quiet call for awareness - a reminder to stay close, to talk more, to protect the ones we love. So that other children may live. So that no other parent has to experience this unimaginable pain,” she added. “Sebastian will remain in our hearts forever.”
The young boy's death comes just months after the parents of four British teenagers filed a lawsuit in the U.S. against TikTok over the deaths of their children, alleging the deaths occurred while attempting the blackout challenge.
According to The Guardian, the lawsuit claimed that Isaac Kenevan, 13, Archie Battersbee, 12, Julian “Jools” Sweeney, 14, and Maia Walsh, 13, died in 2022 after taking part in the challenge.
“TikTok’s algorithm purposely targeted these children with dangerous content to increase their engagement time on the platform and drive revenue. It was a clear and deliberate business decision by TikTok that cost these four children their lives,” an attorney from the Social Media Victims Law Center said at the time.
The popular social media platform has previously stated that searches for videos or hashtags related to the blackout challenge have been blocked since 2020.
The platform’s guidelines say it blocked dangerous content or challenges, aims to remove them as quickly as possible, and directs users searching for such content to safety information and other resources.