October 27th 2025.
Oliver Gorman, a 12-year-old boy, tragically passed away after inhaling deodorant, as stated during an inquest. It is suspected that he may have been influenced by a social media trend known as "chroming" or "huffing," where individuals film themselves getting high from inhaling products like deodorant. His mother, Clare Gillespie, found him unresponsive in his bedroom after the family returned from a holiday. Despite her efforts and the efforts of emergency services, Oliver could not be saved.
The post-mortem revealed that Oliver died from inhaling butane, a propellant commonly found in aerosol deodorants. It was discovered that there were several empty cans of Lynx and Aldi deodorant in Oliver's room. The court was informed about the "chroming" trend, particularly popular on TikTok, and the concerns it raises about its accessibility to young and impressionable individuals.
It was also mentioned that the family was unable to access Oliver's phone to determine if he was aware of the trend or had filmed himself participating in it. The assistant coroner, Andrew Bridgman, concluded that Oliver's death was not intentional and was a result of "recreational enjoyment" gone wrong. He recorded a verdict of misadventure and expressed concern about the spread of these dangerous challenges on social media platforms like TikTok.
In light of this tragic incident, Mr. Bridgman called for better warning labels and potential age restrictions on buying aerosol deodorants. Oliver's mother, Ms. Gillespie, shared her concerns about the prevalence of these challenges on social media and urged parents not to have these products in their homes. She also expressed her shock and ignorance about the dangers of solvents, and is now determined to raise awareness about the signs of bullying and cyberbullying through the "Oliver's Awareness" campaign.
Ms. Gillespie also plans to take Oliver's phone to the manufacturer to see if they can retrieve any information that could provide answers about his involvement in the trend. Mr. Bridgman stated that he would write to relevant authorities about his concerns regarding TikTok and its dissemination of these challenges.
In response to the media's inquiries, TikTok did not provide a statement but shared some background information. They stated that they have not received any requests from the coroner or engaged with law enforcement regarding this case, but they are willing to do so if necessary. The company also clarified that they do not allow videos promoting dangerous activities or challenges on their platform, and 99% of rule-breaking content is proactively identified and removed.
The spokesperson for TikTok also mentioned that warnings about inhalant abuse have existed for decades and that "chroming" cannot be considered a TikTok craze. They stated that there is no evidence of this type of content trending on their platform, and they have measures in place to prevent its spread. However, Oliver's tragic passing has prompted Ms. Gillespie and her family to start the "Oliver's Awareness" campaign, which initially aims to raise awareness about bullying and cyberbullying.
The loss of Oliver has left his family and friends devastated, and they have now moved to start a new life in Shropshire to escape the pain and heartache in Tameside. Ms. Gillespie shared that she still feels numb and upset and hopes that no other parent has to go through what she did. She also expressed her disbelief at the evolution of social media, which was initially intended for connecting with loved ones but has now become a platform for dangerous and harmful challenges.
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