Esra Haynes, a 13-year-old girl from Melbourne, tragically died after taking part in a dangerous viral trend known as chroming—inhaling toxic chemicals to get high.

It happened during a sleepover in March 2023. Her parents, Andrea and Paul, thought it was a normal night with friends. Then came a phone call: Esra was unresponsive and had been rushed to the hospital.

For over a week, the family held onto hope. But doctors finally delivered the devastating news—Esra’s brain was damaged beyond repair. Her family made the heartbreaking decision to take her off life support.

“She was only 13,” Paul said. “We had to say goodbye way too soon.”

Now, the Haynes family is speaking out to warn others.

“This will be our mission now,” Paul said. “Esra didn’t fully understand what she was doing. It only took one moment.”

Her sister Imogen added, “We don’t want another family to go through this pain.”

Chroming—also called solvent abuse—involves inhaling substances like glue, deodorant, or paint thinner. It’s especially dangerous for teens and can cause sudden death, even the first time it’s tried.

The Haynes family hopes Esra’s story will save lives. “It can happen so quickly,” said her brother, Seth. “We just want to raise awareness before it’s too late for someone else.”