Tommie-Lee died after taking part in the challenge (Picture: Facebook)
A ‘bright’ 11-year-old boy found dead at a house is believed to have died after taking part in a ‘dangerous’ TikTok challenge, it emerged today.
Tommie-Lee Gracie Billington suffered a suspected cardiac arrest on Saturday after taking part in a dangerous craze called ‘chroming’.
His grandmother Tina Burns has now urged the social media giant to ‘do more’ to protect children.
Chroming, also known as huffing or sniffing, is where someone inhales toxic chemicals such as paint, solvent, aerosol cans, cleaning products or petrol.
These inhalants then affect the central nervous system and slow down brain activity, which results in a short-term ‘high.’
The trend can result in slurred speech, dizziness, hallucinations, nausea and disorientation but can also cause a heart attack or suffocation.
Tommie-Lee was close with his father, seen above (Picture: Facebook)
Speaking for the first time since Tommie-Lee’s death to raise awareness of the issue, Tina said: ‘He died instantly after a sleepover at a friend’s house. The boys had tried the TikTok craze ‘chroming’.
‘Tommie-Lee went into cardiac arrest immediately and died right there and then. The hospital did everything to try and bring him back but nothing worked. He was gone.’
Tommie-Lee was found unresponsive at a friend’s house on Greenset Close in Lancaster, Lancashire.
Lancashire Police said his death is currently ‘unexplained’.
Tina has since paid tribute to her grandson, describing him as a ‘bright, energetic boy’ who was ‘the life and soul of any room.’
She said: ‘He had a heart of gold just like his dad. Our family is utterly devastated.’
His family has urged social media to be monitored (Picture: Facebook)
Tommie-Lee lived with his mum Sherri in Lancaster whilst dad Graham’s side of the family live in nearby Clayton-le-Woods and the South Ribble area of Lancashire.
Tina said both families want to raise awareness of the dangers of TikTok for youngsters and they are calling on the social media giant to do more to safeguard children.
The teaching assistant added: ‘Both our families are utterly devastated but we all want the same thing.
‘We don’t want any other children to follow TikTok or be on social media. In fact, we want to get TikTok taken down and no children to be allowed on any social media under 16 years of age.
‘This is breaking us all but we want to help save other children’s lives and give families awareness to keep their children safe. I have had so many messages from parents thanking me for making them aware.
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‘One person said that she had no idea about these social media crazes and that her children happily stay in their rooms on TikTok. She never knew there were things like this on it.
‘She has now removed all social media from their devices and is so grateful that we are openly talking about it.’
Tommie-Lee’s mum Sherri also urged parents to ‘hide all deodorants from their children’ so they are unable to take part in the challenge.
Posting on Facebook, she wrote: ‘As much as I hate talking about it, I need to raise awareness of what kids are trying nowadays. Please, please, please hide all deodorants from your children.
‘This cost my son his life from trying something other kids are doing. They are using this and breathing them in to try get a buzz.
‘Please talk to your children about the consequences of this, I have no idea how this even came about for children to try.’
A Go Fund Me page has been set up in memory of Tommie-Lee to help with the funeral costs and Tina says the support her family have received has been ‘amazing.’
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