Warning After Teen Death: "Don't Fall Into The Silly Trap'

The heartbroken parents of a Melbourne teenager who died over the weekend from a chroming incident are warning of the dangers of ‘huffing’.

Esra Haynes, 13, suffered a cardiac arrest and died on Saturday morning, after inhaling dangerous chemicals from an aerosol canister.

The Melbourne year eight student was a popular teen, she co-captained her football team, was a keen dancer and BMX rider. Her parents, Paul and Andrea Haynes, say they’ve now made it their life’s mission to warn other parents and children about chroming.

“We want to help other children not fall into the silly trap of doing this silly thing,” Paul told The Herald Sun. “It’s unquestionable that this will be our crusade.

“No matter how much you lead a horse to water, anyone can drag them away. It’s not something she would have done on her own. We will be living for our daughter for the rest of our lives.”

Chroming involves inhaling metallic paints, solvents, petrol or aerosol cans which create a short-lived ‘high’.

Social media has been flooded with an outpouring of grief from Esra’s shattered friends, who say she had a ‘gorgeous smile and contagious laugh’.

Esra’s sister has also spoken out, telling 10 News it’s a ‘parent’s worst nightmare’.

“She was just blooming, she’d just begun her life. She had so much ahead of her. It was just starting for her, we would have loved to have the rest of our lives with her.”

The Montrose Football Netball Club also paid tribute to their under 14 co-captain.

“Esra came to our club last year, she played in the Under 12 Girls team where she fitted in seamlessly. In her short time at the club, Esra went from strength to strength as a leader on the field, and at training. Esra was named as one of the co-captains for the Under 14 Girls team for 2023.

“Esra was determined, fun, cheeky and talented, she will be greatly missed by her teammates, coaches, and the wider community of our Club.”

33 Comments

- - mom101628 said
  - 30 May 2023
    1:52 am
I do hope that what you are doing and standing up for and advising children, sorry teenagers, against will sink in. Unfortunately, at this age our children believe they are indestructible and it is so hard sometimes to get through to them. I do hope your method will work.

- - seryem said
  - 17 Apr 2023
    9:10 pm
So sad and tragic! I hope that other teens learn from this.

- - emilys said
  - 17 Apr 2023
    12:52 pm
Absolutely heart breaking ????

- - Mumma Clo said
  - 16 Apr 2023
    8:08 pm
Very sad. Just goes to show that one stupid decision can end your life in an instant. RIP Esra.

- - Natmar said
  - 16 Apr 2023
    3:06 pm
So tragic!!!

- - MummaD said
  - 15 Apr 2023
    10:49 pm
How sad for the family.

- - mom489452 said
  - 15 Apr 2023
    10:07 pm
Taken way to early this is a terrible time for the family that will suffer for years to come . It is so sad that even the best of kids from great families lose their way for a moment that ends in tragedy . No blame just pain .

- - Mom466555 said
  - 14 Apr 2023
    7:22 am
Very sad the poor family

- - ella12 said
  - 13 Apr 2023
    4:28 pm
This is so sad. Makes me want to cry. Why would someone do this, why!

- - sars_angelchik said
  - 13 Apr 2023
    1:44 pm
That’s very sad. I hadn’t even heard of chroming, but it sounds like it’s a fancy name for something that kids through the ages have tried, despite how silly.

- - tessie said
  - 13 Apr 2023
    11:52 am
I know this will leave a huge hole in the hearts of her family and friends and the community as a whole. It’s not something that should have happened. My deepest sympathies to her parents and sister. RIP Esra.

- - cassy26 said
  - 13 Apr 2023
    10:19 am
This is absolutely devastating. I can’t imagine what her parents are going through but I think they’re amazing to help warn other kids/parents about the dangers of this…
- Ellen replied
  
  14 Apr 2023 , 7:39 am
  Yes that is amazing indeed, bless them !
- - mom465794 said
  - 13 Apr 2023
    9:53 am
that is so heartbreaking

- - rovermum said
  - 13 Apr 2023
    9:48 am
Apart from the absolute heartbreak and tragedy of this, I am so angry. Angry that this happens. Angry that any teenager feels they need to do this. I just cannot understand or make sense of it at all and a life is lost. Why did she do it? Why does anyone do it? I just don’t understand.

- - alyise_ said
  - 13 Apr 2023
    8:41 am
this is terrifying to read as a parent that a young girl can lose her beautiful life over a simple mistake. my heart aches for her family

- - Ellen said
  - 13 Apr 2023
    8:05 am
Bless this family, this is heartbreaking and so so sad
- Ellen replied
  
  13 Apr 2023 , 8:07 am
  Thank God my 18 and 17yr old have never shown risk taking behaviours like this. However my 13yr old is a different piece of cake, showing extreme risk taking all the time. This is something she could do.
- - shocolatmoose said
  - 13 Apr 2023
    7:59 am
Its heartbreaking, and there will always be that phase of everyones life where they experiment with risky behaviour, drugs etc, though it seems to be happening earlier and earlier, or I am just getting older and it only seems that way. I can only hope to educate my children about the dangers of certain actions, but ultimately it is their choice and you cant monitor them 24/7 for their whole lives.

- - Danicastefanie said
  - 13 Apr 2023
    6:25 am
This is so heartbreaking but also so scary. Its easy to say children/teens shouldn’t be doing these things. But teens experiment thats what they do. I know I did. Its part of learning. Not that I condone any of it and I hope I can teach my children to stay away from doing things like this

- - mom348878 said
  - 13 Apr 2023
    2:45 am
So unnecessary for young people to be trying stupid games that kill. Have faith that you will be making a difference and she will live on forever as a symbol of youth change.

- - ~Loui~ said
  - 12 Apr 2023
    11:53 pm
Adolescent brains are so ready for high risk behaviour. They seem to think that it will never happen to them. It’s a very worrying time.