A seven-year-old girl has been left in a coma with life-threatening injuries after a toy unexpectedly exploded in her face while she attempted a viral challenge she’d seen online — a tragedy her devastated family says could have been “completely avoided” if platforms had acted sooner.
The horrific accident happened in Houston, Texas, when little Lily Harper tried recreating a “DIY rocket” trend that’s been circulating on TikTok and YouTube over the past month. The challenge encourages children to mix household chemicals inside plastic toys or bottles to create mini “explosions.”
According to investigators, Lily and a friend had watched several clips of the experiment before attempting it using a small toy capsule and a household cleaner. Within seconds, the toy erupted violently — sending shrapnel and toxic fumes directly into her face.
“It sounded like a gunshot,” her mother told ABC13 through tears. “I found her lying on the floor, bleeding and barely breathing.”
“A 7-year-old Texas girl is in a coma after a viral TikTok trend caused a toy to explode in her face.” @CBSNews
Doctors at Texas Children’s Hospital confirmed that Lily sustained severe burns, facial fractures, and vision damage from the explosion. “The blast was powerful enough to embed fragments into her skin,” said trauma surgeon Dr. Carla Mendoza. “It’s a miracle she’s alive.”
Police have launched an investigation into the incident and are reviewing the social media posts that allegedly inspired the children to try the experiment. “We’ve seen an alarming rise in dangerous DIY ‘science’ trends targeting kids,” said Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez. “These aren’t harmless pranks — they’re potential bomb-making tutorials.”
The viral trend, dubbed the “Rocket Pop Challenge,” has already been flagged by safety watchdogs after several minor injuries were reported in other states. In one Reddit thread, users warned that the reaction could cause “mini pipe bombs” if done incorrectly. But parents say the warnings came too late.
“My daughter was just trying to have fun,” Lily’s father said in a statement shared with CNN. “Now she’s fighting for her life because someone thought blowing things up for likes was entertainment.”
The video that inspired Lily’s attempt has since been removed, but not before being viewed more than 9 million times across multiple platforms. Copies of it — featuring upbeat music and excited commentary — continue to circulate on smaller accounts despite community guidelines forbidding dangerous content.
“Parents are begging social media platforms to take down these ‘DIY rocket’ trends after a 7-year-old girl was critically injured.” @Reuters
Experts say this case highlights the growing failure of tech companies to protect children from unsafe viral stunts. “The algorithms don’t care about age — they care about engagement,” said Dr. Amelia Zhang, a media psychologist. “A dangerous trend can spread globally before moderators even know it exists.”
Family friends have since launched a GoFundMe campaign to help cover Lily’s medical expenses, which have already exceeded $400,000. “She’s undergone two surgeries so far, and more are expected,” the fundraiser reads. “We just want her to wake up and smile again.”
Meanwhile, angry parents across the country are calling on regulators to enforce stricter controls on what children can access online. “How many more kids have to end up in hospital before these apps take responsibility?” one mother wrote on X. “It’s digital negligence at this point.”
Doctors have placed Lily in a medically induced coma to reduce brain swelling and manage her pain. Her mother posted a photo of her daughter in the ICU surrounded by stuffed animals and handwritten notes from classmates. “She’s our little rocket,” she wrote on Instagram. “But we never wanted her to take off this way.”
“‘She’s our little rocket,’ her mom wrote, sharing a heartbreaking photo from the ICU. ‘We never wanted her to take off this way.’” @AP
As the story spreads, the online community has erupted in outrage. “It’s horrifying that something meant for fun nearly killed her,” one user wrote under the trending hashtag #StopTheTrends. Others have flooded TikTok’s comment sections demanding bans on the accounts responsible.
TikTok issued a brief statement saying it was “deeply saddened” by the incident and was “actively removing content associated with the challenge.” But critics argue the response came far too late. “You can’t just delete tragedy after it happens,” wrote journalist Taylor Lorenz. “Platforms have to prevent it — not mourn it.”
Back in Houston, Lily’s parents are clinging to hope. “She squeezed my hand today,” her father said softly to NBC News. “It’s the first time we’ve seen a sign she’s still in there.”
Outside the hospital, a growing memorial of flowers, toys, and handwritten cards now lines the sidewalk. One note, scrawled in crayon by a classmate, reads: “Wake up soon, Lily. We miss your laugh.”
Her story has become a grim reminder of how fast online “fun” can turn fatal — and how easily a single click can change a child’s life forever. “She just wanted to do what everyone else was doing,” her mother said. “And now she’s fighting for her life because of it.”
