Family Heartbroken After 11-Year-Old Son 'Died Instantly' After Doing New 'Chroming' Trend

Tommie-lee Gracie Billington, just 11 years old, was a victim of this hazardous trend, which led to his untimely death, according to his relatives.

In the aftermath, his family has embarked on a mission to spread awareness about the perilous nature of 'chroming' in hopes of preventing further tragedies.

'Chroming' refers to the act of inhaling toxic chemicals from common household items like paint, solvents, aerosol cans, cleaning products, or petrol to achieve a fleeting sensation of euphoria.

This practice dangerously affects the central nervous system by slowing it down, creating the sought-after 'high'.

Tommie-Lee Gracie Billington suffered a suspected cardiac arrest on March 2. Credits: Facebook

However, the consequences can be fatal, as tragically evidenced in Tommie-lee's case.

According to his grandmother, the incident occurred during a sleepover at a friend's house, and Tommie-lee tragically passed away on March 2 due to a suspected cardiac arrest.

Although the police have described the young boy's death as 'unexplained', his family is convinced that it was the direct result of experimenting with the 'chroming' trend circulated on social media.

In an interview with the Lancashire Post, Tommie-lee's grandmother, Tina Burns, expressed the family's devastation. 

"We need the cause, the reason to get out there in the media of what killed my grandson," she stated, emphasizing the urgency of raising public awareness about the dangers of such social media trends. 

"He died instantly after a sleepover at a friend's house. The boys had tried the TikTok craze 'chroming'."

While TikTok has refuted claims that 'chroming' is a trend associated specifically with their platform, the family's grief remains profound.

Police say Tommie-lee's passing is currently 'unexplained'. Credits: Facebook

"Tommie-lee went into cardiac arrest immediately and died right there and then."

"The hospital did everything to try and bring him back, but nothing worked. He was gone," Tina recounted, painting a picture of a vibrant and full-of-life young boy whose absence has left a void in their hearts.

Determined to turn their pain into a force for good, Tina has been vocal about the need for awareness and prevention.

"This is breaking us all but we want to help save other children's lives and give families awareness to keep their children safe."

"I have had so many messages from parents thanking me for making them aware." 

In 2018, 90 percent of 13 to 17 year olds in the US were said to use social media. Credits: Peter Cade/Getty Stock

Additionally, Tina has advocated for stricter controls on social media access, suggesting a minimum age requirement of 16 years old to protect young individuals from encountering harmful content.

In memory of Tommie-lee and to support his family during this difficult time, a GoFundMe page was established by Julie Hartley, aiming to cover the funeral expenses.

Hartley's heartfelt message on the fundraiser reads: 

"I'm sure you're all aware of the untimely passing of this gorgeous little boy. I would like to raise funds towards his funeral expenses to help his loving family out."

"Any donation would be very much appreciated."

So far, the community's response has been generous, with over £3,059 raised in Tommie-lee's honor.

For anyone grieving the loss of a loved one and in need of someone to talk to, The Compassionate Friends offers confidential support and can be reached at (877) 969-0010.