A devastated Australian family is speaking out after their 13-year-old daughter, Esra Haynes, lost her life to the alarming ‘chroming’ trend—a hazardous practice involving the inhalation of chemical substances for a quick high. In the wake of their unimaginable loss, her parents, Paul and Andrea Haynes, are now on a mission to raise awareness and demand stricter regulations from both manufacturers and social media platforms to prevent more families from suffering a similar fate.
Esra, a bright and energetic teenager attending Lilydale High School in Melbourne, had been enjoying a seemingly normal night at a friend’s sleepover in March 2023 when the unthinkable happened. The decision to experiment with chroming—a trend that has gained traction among teenagers—led to a catastrophic outcome. The moment she inhaled the toxic chemicals, her body went into cardiac arrest. By the time emergency responders arrived, the damage had already been done.
Rushed to the hospital, doctors delivered a heartbreaking prognosis to her parents: Esra had suffered irreversible brain damage. Despite being placed on life support, there was nothing that could be done to save her. After eight agonizing days, Paul and Andrea were forced to make the excruciating decision no parent should ever have to face—saying their final goodbyes to their beloved daughter.
A Family’s Heartbreaking Call to Action
In an emotional interview, Esra’s parents described the pain that now defines their lives and their urgent plea to prevent another tragedy.
“For us, the sight of her in that hospital bed—it’s something we can never unsee,” Paul shared, his voice breaking. “We will carry that image with us forever.”
Andrea recalled how that night had started like any other, never suspecting that their daughter was in any danger. “It was just the usual routine—hanging out with friends. We always knew where she was, who she was with. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary,” she said. “Then we got that phone call, the one every parent dreads: ‘Come get your daughter.’”
But by the time they reached the hospital, their world had already changed forever.
Paul added, “We were confronted with something no parent should ever have to see. It’s haunting. Those images are seared into our minds, and they will never fade.”
The Hidden Dangers of Chroming
Chroming, also known as inhalant abuse, is a growing concern among teenagers who are often unaware of the severe and sometimes fatal consequences. The practice involves inhaling chemicals from household products such as deodorants, spray paints, and cleaning agents to experience a fleeting, euphoric high. However, the effects on the body can be devastating—triggering heart failure, suffocation, and permanent brain damage.
In Esra’s case, the toxic fumes she inhaled immediately shut down her system. The lack of oxygen to her brain caused irreversible damage, leaving her in a vegetative state.
The rise of social media has only exacerbated the problem, with harmful trends spreading rapidly across platforms where young, impressionable minds are easily influenced. Paul and Andrea believe this is how their daughter first learned about chroming and are now calling for social media giants to take responsibility.
“Social media companies need to step up,” Paul said firmly. “These trends don’t just magically appear—kids are seeing them online. They need to do more to monitor and remove harmful content before another child dies.”
The Push for Change
Beyond social media, Esra’s parents are also urging manufacturers to reconsider the formulations of aerosol products.
“For me, these deodorant cans are like a loaded gun sitting on the shelves,” Paul stated. “We need manufacturers to rethink their ingredients, change the formulation, alter the propellants—something needs to be done.”
They’re also advocating for more stringent sales regulations to prevent young people from easily obtaining these potentially lethal products.
Some supermarkets have already begun locking up deodorants due to a spike in thefts linked to chroming, but Paul and Andrea believe this isn’t enough. They want schools, parents, and government officials to take a more proactive role in educating children about the dangers of inhalant abuse before it’s too late.
“Kids don’t think about the future,” Paul explained. “They live in the moment, never considering the consequences. If Esra had truly understood what could happen, she never would have tried this. She had her whole life ahead of her.”
Andrea echoed his sentiment, adding, “The ripple effect of this has been absolutely devastating. We don’t just lose our child in that moment—we lose every future moment with her. There’s no bringing her home. There’s no fixing this.”
A Tragic Pattern of Loss
Esra’s case is, sadly, not an isolated incident. In 2019, a 16-year-old boy in New South Wales lost his life to chroming. In 2021, a young girl in Queensland suffered severe brain damage after engaging in the dangerous activity.
Despite these tragic cases, chroming continues to gain traction among teens who see it as a seemingly harmless way to have fun. But Esra’s family is determined to ensure that her story serves as a wake-up call to parents, educators, and lawmakers.
“We need to start having real conversations about this,” Paul urged. “It’s not just about banning something or locking things up—it’s about education, awareness, and changing the way we approach these dangers.”
He continued, “Esra’s name means ‘helper,’ and that’s what we want to do. If sharing her story can save even one life, then we have to keep talking about it.”
Esra’s older siblings—Imogen, Seth, and Charlie—were by her side throughout her final moments, holding her and comforting her until the very end. Their pain, like their parents’, is immeasurable.
No family should ever have to endure this kind of loss. But through their heartbreak, the Haynes family remains steadfast in their mission to spread awareness and advocate for change, ensuring that Esra’s story is not forgotten.