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Oliver Gorman, a 12-year-old boy from Hyde, Tameside, tragically lost his life after reportedly taking part in a dangerous social media-driven craze known as 'chroming' or 'huffing'. The incident occurred shortly after Oliver returned from a family holiday in Wales on May 5, when he was found unresponsive in his bedroom. Despite emergency efforts, including being airlifted to Tameside General Hospital, Oliver could not be saved. The inquest revealed that he had inhaled butane, a propellant commonly found in aerosol deodorants, which led to his death. Empty cans of Lynx and Aldi deodorants were found scattered around his room, suggesting he was engaging in this risky behavior.
The coroner, Assistant Coroner Andrew Bridgman, highlighted during the inquest that the chroming craze is widespread on social media platforms, especially TikTok, where users film themselves inhaling fumes from aerosol products to get high. Although police were unable to access Oliver’s phone, it was acknowledged that such challenges are commonly disseminated through TikTok. Despite concerns raised by Oliver’s mother about potential bullying, the coroner found no evidence that bullying played a role in his death, concluding instead that the incident was a tragic case of misadventure with no intent of self-harm.
Following the inquest, serious concerns were expressed about the safety measures related to aerosol products and the role of social media platforms in promoting harmful challenges. The coroner questioned the current age restrictions on social media, which typically allow access from age 13, noting that these limitations seem based on data protection laws rather than the nature of potentially harmful content. He pointed out the inconsistency in regulations, as certain products containing butane, like cigarette refilling canisters or aerosol paints, have age restrictions, while deodorants and similar items do not, despite their misuse being equally lethal.
Warnings on aerosol cans were also criticized for being inadequate. In Oliver’s case, the warning label was small, poorly visible, and failed to clearly communicate the dangers of inhaling the propellant. The coroner emphasized that many people, including both adults and children, might not associate inhaling aerosols with solvent abuse, meaning the risk of instant death is not properly understood. He called for stronger and more visible warnings that accurately describe the life-threatening consequences of misuse.
The Prevention of Future Deaths report, made public on November 5, was sent to several government departments and the British Aerosol Manufacturers Association. It contained a stark warning about the ongoing risk posed by social media content promoting dangerous behavior, imploring platform providers to take responsibility for managing toxic algorithms and harmful challenges. Oliver’s mother, Clare Gillespie, expressed her shock and heartbreak, stressing that she had no idea about chroming’s deadly risks and urging parents to remove such products from their homes to protect their children.
TikTok, when approached for comment, stated it had not received any requests from the coroner and denied that chroming was a craze on their platform. They reinforced their policies against dangerous content, claiming most rule-breaking videos are detected proactively before being reported. However, the tragedy highlights ongoing concerns about the influence of social media on impressionable young people and the urgent need for better regulation and awareness to prevent similar deaths in the future.
