Australian broadcaster Ally Langdon was visibly emotional as she spoke with parents who were forced to make an unimaginable decision: ending life support for their young daughter just days after a routine sleepover.
The interview, aired on A Current Affair, told the story of Esra Haynes, a 13-year-old Victorian girl who died after taking part in a dangerous online trend known as chroming—a practice involving inhaling household chemicals to achieve a brief high.
Langdon, a mother herself, struggled to hold back tears as Andrea and Paul Haynes described how quickly their family’s life was turned upside down.
A Young Life Full of Promise
Esra was known for her energy, leadership, and athletic ability. She raced BMX bikes alongside her brothers and co-captained her aerobics team, leading them to a national championship in Queensland. Her local sporting club described her as confident, playful, and highly talented.
To her parents, she was simply a happy, active teenager.
On March 31, Esra went to a friend’s house for a sleepover—something she had done many times before.
“There was nothing unusual about the night,” her mother Andrea explained. “She was just going out to spend time with friends.”
A Dangerous Trend With Fatal Consequences
During the sleepover, Esra inhaled aerosol deodorant, an act associated with chroming. Shortly afterward, she collapsed and went into cardiac arrest, suffering catastrophic brain injury.
Paul recalled receiving the phone call no parent ever expects.
“We always knew where she was and who she was with,” he said. “Then we got that call telling us to come and get our daughter.”
Friends initially believed Esra was experiencing a panic attack. Emergency responders later confirmed that her body had begun shutting down.
Andrea said she had never heard of chroming until paramedics explained what had happened.
Days of Hope Turn Into Heartbreak
Esra was taken to hospital and placed on life support. Her parents remained hopeful, believing her strong heart and lungs might help her recover.
After eight days, doctors delivered devastating news: Esra’s brain damage was irreversible.
Paul and Andrea were faced with an impossible decision.
Doctors asked them to gather family and friends to say goodbye.
“She was placed on a bed so we could lie with her,” Paul said. “We held her until the very end.”
Langdon, overcome by emotion, paused the interview as tears welled in her eyes.
A Family and Community in Mourning
Esra passed away in early April. Her parents say the loss has left their family “broken.” Her siblings—Imogen, Seth, and Charlie—were deeply affected, as were her friends and classmates.
“We haven’t been sleeping. We haven’t been eating properly,” Paul said. “It’s affected not just us, but the entire community.”
Turning Tragedy Into Awareness
Before their daughter’s death, the Haynes family had no knowledge of chroming. Now, they are committed to raising awareness among parents and teens.
Chroming can involve easily accessible items such as deodorant, paint, hairspray, or markers, and medical experts warn it can cause seizures, heart failure, suffocation, coma, and sudden death.
Since 2009, multiple deaths across Australia and internationally have been linked to the practice.
“If we had known about this,” Paul said, “we would have talked about it at our kitchen table.”
A Message for Parents Everywhere
The Haynes family is urging parents to start open, calm conversations with their children about online trends and risky behavior—before kids learn about them through social media or peers.
“Parents need to gently open that dialogue,” Paul said. “We didn’t know this was happening.”
Their goal is to prevent other families from facing the same unimaginable loss.
A Story With a Broader Impact
Esra’s death has become part of a wider national discussion around teen safety, viral challenges, and the responsibility of education and prevention in the digital age.
While the pain of their loss remains overwhelming, her parents hope sharing Esra’s story will save lives.
Our thoughts remain with the Haynes family and all those affected by Esra’s passing.