What happened to Tommie-lee?
On March 2, 2024, the young boy, Tommie-lee Gracie Billington, at the age of 11, died due to a supposed ‘TikTok trend’ called “chroming”.
Last Saturday, Tommie-lee Gracie Billington was found unconscious at his friend’s house, where he was having a sleepover in Greenset Close, Lancaster. Sources state that this young boy supposedly suffered from cardiac arrest at around 12:30 pm, and when he was found, he was quickly rushed to seek immediate medical attention. Unfortunately, paramedics were unable to save him, as they did everything in their power, but he was pronounced dead then and there.
As of now, officials have stated that the current reason for Tommie-lee Gracie Billington’s death is unknown and is still under further investigation. But Tommie-lee’s grandmother, Tina Burns, persists with the reason for his death being because of this “TikTok craze” that took a horrible turn for the worst ( nationalworld.com ).
In Tina Burns’s words, “We need the cause, the reason to get out there in the media of what killed my grandson.”
Burns also stated, “He died instantly after a sleepover at a friend’s house. The boys had tried the TikTok craze ‘chroming’.”
In a Facebook post, tommie-lee Gracie Billington’s mother, Ms. Burns, said, “[I have] never felt pain like this. I just love you so much, mate. My baby boy, you will forever be in my heart. I will make sure to the best of my ability that your name and your beautiful face will become the reason that other children’s lives will be saved and other families don’t have to suffer this deep, deep hurt.”
As a result of this traumatizing and terrible accident, the family of Tommie-Lee has started to “campaign” against the use of Tiktok among the younger generations, as they suggest children under the age of 16 should not be able to access Tiktok due to the poor influence it can have on a child that can lead to mishaps such as what had happened to Tommie-Lee.
This family would also like to release tribute to this young boy as he was described as a “bright, energetic boy” who had “a heart of gold” ( found on independent.co.uk ).
What is ‘Chroming’
Chroming is a trend that became popular because of TikTok. This trend consists of inhaling or “huffing” aromas of toxic chemicals for what some call “a short-term ‘high’” as these chemicals “slow down brain activity.”
Teenagers have been reported to be using various methods to attempt Chroming, including inhaling the fumes from nail polish remover, markers, spray paint bottles, air fresheners, and even gasoline.
The act of ‘Chroming’ can be hazardous, for it causes “slurred speech, dizziness, and hallucinations. Nausea, vomiting, and disorientation.” However, in some extreme cases, the practice of ‘Chroming’ may cause death by “heart attack or suffocation.” Yet, even if you do not end up dying from ‘chroming’ it can still cause long-term effects such as “permanently damage the brain, liver, and kidneys.” ( found on ksat.com )
