11-year-old Tommie-Lee Billington lost his life after attempting a dangerous TikTok challenge during a sleepover with friends in Lancaster, England. The challenge, popular on the social media app, involves inhaling substances like dry shampoo or spray deodorant to induce a high.
Tommie’s grandmother, Tina Burns, recounted the heartbreaking moment: “The hospital did everything to try and bring him back but nothing worked. He was gone.” Tommie’s mother, Sherri, expressed her devastation and urged parents to talk to their children about the dangers of such challenges, stating on Facebook: “This cost my son his life from trying something other kids are doing.”
Sadly, Tommie isn’t the first victim of this perilous trend. 13-year-old Esra Haynes also lost her life in a similar incident. Sherri vowed to honor her son’s memory by raising awareness about the dangers of these challenges, hoping to prevent other families from enduring similar tragedies.
The heartbreaking loss of young lives underscores the urgent need for parental vigilance and conversations about social media safety. As Sherri aptly concluded, “I will make sure to the best of my ability that your name and your beautiful face will become the reason that other children’s lives will be saved.”