11-year-old dies of cardiac arrest during social media challenge. What parents need to know about chroming?

Tommie-lee Gracie Billington, aged 11, passed away on Saturday after being found unresponsive at a friend's residence in Greenset Close, Lancaster, UK. He experienced a suspected cardiac arrest and was promptly transported to the hospital, according to Lancashire Post. Lancashire Police have labeled his death as 'unexplained,' and an investigation is underway. However, Tommie-lee's grandmother, Tina Burns, revealed that the 11-year-old lost his life due to a dangerous TikTok craze gone awry.

In an emotional plea to the Lancashire Post, Tina emphasized the urgency of spreading awareness about what caused her grandson's death. According to her, Tommie-lee succumbed immediately after attempting the TikTok craze known as 'chroming,' resulting in cardiac arrest.

The child's family has urged the social media platform to implement stricter safety measures to protect children.


Tina, who works as a teaching assistant, stressed the devastating impact of her grandson's death on the entire family. They hope that by sharing their story, they can prevent similar tragedies and advocate for stricter regulations regarding children's access to social media platforms.

What is chroming?

"Chroming" is the practice of inhaling aerosol metallic paint or other household products or chemicals to achieve a high. This term encompasses the inhalation of various substances, not just metallic paints. When individuals engage in chroming, they aim to inhale the hydrocarbons present in metallic paints and other products, resulting in a high. However, this behavior can lead to severe short-term and long-term health consequences, including death.

The concept of chroming has been around for many years, known by different names in the past. Previously, it was often referred to as "huffing."

Hydrocarbons are found in numerous household items such as aerosol paint, paint thinner, motor fuel, and glue. Inhaling these substances can induce a high, prompting many individuals to misuse them as drugs. Similar to drug abuse, chroming poses significant risks to health, both immediately and in the long term, with the potential for fatal outcomes.

Chroming can lead to death through various means, including asphyxiation, cardiac arrest, choking, coma, convulsions, fatal injury, and suffocation.

Short-term effects of chroming include breathing difficulties, drowsiness, headache, lethargy, muscle weakness, nausea, vomiting, seizures, and stupor, according to Anthony F. Pizon, Chief of Medical Toxicology, UPMC, while long-term consequences may include addiction, bone marrow damage, brain damage, heart failure, kidney and liver damage, mental health disorders, neurological conditions, and respiratory damage.

Preventing chroming involves educating vulnerable groups, including children, adolescents, and teens, about the dangers associated with this behavior. Education serves as the most effective means of safeguarding these groups from the risks of chroming.