The Incident
On March 31, Esra attended a sleepover with friends. During the evening, she inhaled aerosol deodorant, which caused her to go into cardiac arrest. Paramedics arrived and rushed her to the hospital, where she remained on life support. Despite their hope and the care she received, doctors later informed her parents that her brain had been irreparably damaged, leading to the devastating decision to remove life support.
Her father, Paul, described the moment as “one of the calls no parent ever wants to receive.” Andrea recalled that her daughter’s friends initially thought she was having a panic attack, not realizing the danger she was in.
The Family’s Grief and Mission
The Haynes family, including Esra’s siblings Imogen, Seth, and Charlie, are deeply affected by the loss. Paul said, “It’s been the most difficult, traumatic time any parent could go through… But it’s not just affected us; it’s affected the community as well.”
Since the tragedy, Andrea and Paul have committed to raising awareness about chroming. They want other parents and children to understand the dangers of inhaling household chemicals, which can lead to seizures, heart problems, suffocation, and even death.
Paul emphasized the importance of open communication with children: “We need to let kids know the risks directly, not through friends or social media, so they can make informed decisions.”
A Growing Concern
Chroming has been linked to the deaths of multiple children across Australia and internationally. Parents are encouraged to educate themselves and their children about the risks of this trend and to monitor for warning signs of dangerous behavior.
The Haynes family hopes that by sharing their story, they can prevent other families from experiencing the same tragedy. Their message is clear: awareness, education, and open conversation are critical to keeping children safe.