By Charlotte Phillipp (People)- A 12-year-old boy has died — and a GoFundMe page set up by a loved one is claiming that his death stemmed from a dangerous social media challenge known as the “blackout challenge.”
The West Yorkshire Police announced that a boy died in Castleford, England, on Friday, June 27, according to local outlet Yorkshire Live
“Police were called by ambulance colleagues to an address in Manor Grove, Castleford, at 6:06 p.m. [ on June 27] following reports of concern for the safety of a child,” police told the outlet in a statement.
“Officers attended the location and the boy was taken to hospital where it was later confirmed that he had died. Enquiries are ongoing on behalf of the West Yorkshire Coroner to establish exactly what happened,” the statement continued. “The incident is not being treated as suspicious.
In a GoFundMe campaign started soon after the incident, the fundraiser’s organizer Agnieszka Czerniejewska identified the boy simply as Sebastian, writing that “a dangerous internet challenge took his life.
“Sebastian lost his life because of an online challenge,” she continued, specifically referencing the blackout challenge, before mentioning his family. “His parents gave him all the love and care in the world — but that one moment online changed everything.”
The blackout challenge involves choking oneself, which deprives the brain of oxygen and can result in brain damage or death. The Independent reported in 2022 that at least 20 deaths had been linked to the challenge within 18 months, with 15 of the victims being 12 or younger.
“Sebastian was only 12 years old. A boy full of dreams, passion, and incredible talent. He taught himself to play the guitar and keyboard, and he loved to draw. Always smiling, kind, and full of joy — everyone who met him was touched by his gentle spirit,” the GoFundMe stated.
“He had loving parents who did everything they could to give him a safe and happy childhood. They would have given him the stars. Sadly, one brief moment changed everything,” the campaign continued. “What happened is a tragedy beyond words. No parent should ever have to bury their child. No one should ever endure such heartbreak.”
The organiser of the GoFundMe campaign — which has raised over more than $4,100 to support Sebastian’s parents — also encouraged other parents to “talk to your children about what they do online.”
“Ask what they watch, who they talk to, what inspires them. Be present. Don’t assume: ‘My child would never do that.’ The online world can be as dangerous as the real one — sometimes even more so,” she wrote.
“Let [Sebastian’s death] be a quiet call for awareness — a reminder to stay close, to talk more, to protect the ones we love. So that other children may live. So that no other parent has to experience this unimaginable pain,” Czerniejewska added. “Sebastian will remain in our hearts forever.”
The 12-year-old’s death comes just months after the parents of four British teenagers filed a lawsuit in the U.S. against TikTok over the deaths of their children, alleging that their deaths occurred because of the blackout challenge.
According to The Guardian, the lawsuit, filed in February, claimed Isaac Kenevan, 13, Archie Battersbee, 12, Julian “Jools” Sweeney, 14, and Maia Walsh, 13, died in 2022 while attempting the challenge.
“TikTok’s algorithm purposely targeted these children with dangerous content to increase their engagement time on the platform and drive revenue. It was a clear and deliberate business decision by TikTok that cost these four children their lives,” an attorney from the Social Media Victims Law Center said at the time.
TikTok previously said that searches for videos or hashtags related to the challenge have been blocked since 2020. The video platform’s content guidelines state that it prohibits dangerous content or challenges, aims to remove them as soon as possible and directs users that search for this content to safety information and other resources.
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