On March 31st, 13-year-old Esra Haynes, a determined, fun-loving, and talented young athlete, went to a friend’s house for a sleepover – a routine occurrence that would tragically become her final moments. During that fateful night, Esra fell victim to a deadly social media trend known as “chroming,” a practice that involves inhaling toxic chemicals through the mouth or nose in an attempt to get high.
After Esra inhaled a can of aerosol deodorant, her body went into cardiac arrest, leading to irreparable brain damage. Despite the best efforts of medical professionals, Esra’s young life could not be saved. After eight days on life support, her devastated parents, Andrea and Paul Haynes, were faced with the unimaginable decision to turn off the machines keeping their daughter alive.
In an emotional interview with A Current Affair host Ally Langdon, the Haynes family shared the painful details of their ordeal. Andrea recounted the fateful phone call that no parent ever wants to receive, as she rushed to her daughter’s side. When she arrived, paramedics were already working to revive Esra, informing Andrea that her daughter had been “chroming” – a term the distraught mother had never heard before.
As Esra clung to life in the hospital, her parents held onto the hope that she would recover. Tragically, the damage to Esra’s brain was too severe, and the Haynes were forced to make the agonizing choice to end her life support. In their final moments with their daughter, the family gathered to say their goodbyes, with Esra’s father, Paul, describing the heartbreaking experience of cuddling his young child until the end.
The loss of Esra has left the Haynes family completely “broken,” as her siblings, Imogen, Seth, and Charlie, are also “shattered” by the tragedy. Paul Haynes eloquently expressed the family’s pain, stating, “It’s been the most difficult, traumatic time any parent could go through. We haven’t been sleeping, we’ve hardly been eating, we haven’t been smiling–we’re not ourselves.”
The impact of Esra’s death has also reverberated through the broader community, with her friends and teammates equally devastated by the loss of this vibrant young life. The Montrose Football Netball Club, where Esra co-captained the team, described her as “determined, fun, cheeky and talented,” underscoring the depth of the community’s grief.
Chroming, the deadly practice that claimed Esra’s life, is a growing concern across Australia and the world. Since 2009, this alarming trend has been responsible for the deaths of multiple children, as young people seek an immediate, short-term high by inhaling a variety of toxic substances, including deodorant, paint, hairspray, and even permanent markers.
The consequences of chroming can be devastating, ranging from seizures and heart attacks to suffocation, sudden sniffing death, coma, and organ failure. Despite the clear and present danger, many young people are drawn to this trend, lured by the promise of an instant high and the false perception of safety in everyday household items.
Devastated by Esra’s tragic death, her parents, Andrea and Paul Haynes, have embarked on a crusade to raise awareness about the dangers of chroming. They emphasize that prior to their daughter’s untimely passing, they had never even heard of this deadly practice, and they believe that if they had been educated on the risks, they could have had the crucial conversation with Esra to potentially save her life.
The Haynes family is now determined to ensure that other parents are not caught unaware, as they were. They are advocating for increased education and awareness, urging parents to have open and honest discussions with their children about the lethal consequences of chroming. By sharing Esra’s story and shedding light on this silent killer, the Haynes hope to empower families and prevent other young lives from being tragically cut short.
The chroming epidemic sweeping across Australia has reached a critical point, and the Haynes family’s experience serves as a sobering reminder of the devastating impact this deadly trend can have. As a society, we must confront this issue head-on and take immediate action to protect our children.
Educating parents, teachers, and young people about the dangers of chroming is a crucial first step. By providing clear and accessible information on the risks, we can empower families to have open and honest conversations, effectively deterring young people from engaging in this lethal practice.
Additionally, we must explore legislative and regulatory measures to restrict access to the household products commonly used for chroming, making it more difficult for young people to obtain these dangerous substances. By addressing the root causes and making it harder for individuals to partake in chroming, we can save countless lives and prevent heartbreaking tragedies like the one experienced by the Haynes family.
The loss of Esra Haynes is a tragedy that has left an indelible mark on her family, friends, and the broader community. However, her legacy can live on through the efforts of those who are determined to raise awareness and prevent other families from enduring the same unimaginable pain.
By sharing Esra’s story and the Haynes family’s journey, we can inspire change and save lives. Through education, advocacy, and legislative action, we can work together to eradicate the deadly scourge of chroming and ensure that no other parent has to face the heart-wrenching decision of turning off their child’s life support.
Esra’s memory will forever be a testament to the power of love, resilience, and the unwavering determination of a family to transform unimaginable tragedy into a catalyst for meaningful change. Let us honor her life by redoubling our efforts to protect our children and ensure that no other family has to experience the devastating loss that the Haynes family has endured.
