Joshua Haileyesus.Photo: Go Fund Me
A boy is in critical condition after his parents believe he participated in a viral online challenge that encourages participants to choke themselves until they pass out.
On March 22, Joshua Haileyesus' twin brother found him unconscious on the bathroom floor of their Colorado home, according to aGoFundMeset up for the family.
The 12-year-old’s parents believe he was taking part in a challenge that dares people to see how long they can hold their breath, and that he was “completely unaware of the risks involved.”
The dangerous game — sometimes referred to as the “Choking Challenge,” “Blackout Challenge,” “Space Monkey” or “Pass-out Challenge” — is nothing new in the world of social media. As far back as 2008, theCenters for Disease Control and Preventionattributed 82 youth deaths to a variation of the challenge.
“He is currently being intubated and the doctors have said that his chance for survival is extremely unlikely,” the page continued.
During an interview withKCNC, Joshua’s father, Haileyesus Zeryihun, said doctors told him shortly after the incident that Joshua would not survive the ordeal.
“I couldn’t take it there, I was on the floor, I was crying,” he told the outlet. “It was just heartbreaking to see him, laying on the bed.”
The family said they hope to raise awareness about the online challenge to hopefully spare other parents from a similar experience.
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“We are desperate not only to bring Joshua home, but to ensure that nothing like this happens to anyone else,” they said. “We urge the community to spend awareness about Joshua and the real risks involved in not having knowledge of what kinds of activities children are involved in.”
In 2018, 11-year-oldCarson Bodkinsdied after participating in the choking challenge, and a year later, teenagerMason Bogardof Indiana died after he attempted the dare.
source: people.com
