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.”