The Premier considers launching education campaign about chroming after Esra’s death

Dan Andrews says the government must “step up” efforts to end chroming, describing the tragic death of a Lilydale High School student as “every parent’s nightmare”.

Daniel Andrews has admitted the government may need to ramp up education efforts to prevent another chroming tragedy.

The Premier said he would consider launching an education campaign in Victorian schools in the wake of Esra Haynes’ death.

“I think that we might need to step up our efforts there,” he said.

“This is a terrible thing.

“I send my best wishes and my condolences to the family of that young person.

“I’ve got kids not much older. It’s every parent’s nightmare.”

Mr Andrews said the government needed to have a “closer look” at ways to combatting the rising behaviour.

“If there’s more that we can do there to make sure that every young person knows how dangerous that is and how tragic it can be, then of course we stand ready to do that,” he said.

Videos of young teens brazenly chroming on social media have contributed to a recent spike in the popularity of the deadly habit.

Esra Haynes, 13, who attended Lilydale High School, died on Saturday, April 8 after fighting for her life in hospital. Picture: Supplied

It comes after the Herald Sun revealed Lilydale High School student Esra Haynes, 13, suffered a cardiac arrest from chroming and died on Saturday.

Chroming or “huffing”, involves the inhalation of paint, solvents, petrol, aerosols and other chemicals. It can produce a short-term “high” by slowing down messages between the body and brain.

But the practice can also cause chest pain and an irregular heart beat, even stopping the heart, while long-term it can lead to brain, liver and kidney damage.

Esra’s sister Imogen, 23, said on Wednesday that her family was heartbroken they would not be able to watch their precious sister and daughter live the rest of her life.

“She fought as hard as she could,” she said.

“Her lungs and her heart were strong but her brain just didn’t recover after the cardiac arrest, so we, unfortunately, had to say goodbye to her.

“It has been absolutely horrible to see mum and dad like this. It’s a parent’s worst nightmare to lose a daughter.”

She said her sister was “blooming and had just begun her life”, she said. “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 … 18 and up and have fun with her and let her live her life.”

Experts have told the Herald Sun that social media platforms including TikTok have led to a surge in young people chroming.

National statistics presented to the NSW Coroner’s Court also show more than a dozen deaths from chroming since 2009, with one leading Victorian expert warning chroming can never be safe.

VicHealth statistics show 18 per cent of teenagers have tried inhalants, with most users aged between 12 and 14.

Footage on TikTok seen by the Herald Sun shows young people brazenly inhaling from aerosol cans.

In one video, a TikTok user says: “Pov (point of view): You just inhaled Lysol (a cleaning product) and can’t feel anything and tell your friend to hit you.”

The video re-enacts a scene from the cult film Thirteen, where two girls are seen chroming and hitting each other. The popular social media platform also features tutorials on how to chrome.

Esra Haynes’ siblings say her sister had just begun her life. Picture: 9News

Dr Sarah MacLean, associate professor in the Department of Social Work at La Trobe University, warned chroming could never be safe.

“It is associated with sudden suffocation events and cardiac arrests but it is hard to know when this might happen,” she said. “This is a possible outcome of this form of drug use every time. We can’t know in advance when there are going to be these adverse outcomes.”

However, Dr MacLean said those with cardiac conditions were at additional risk.

“Social media is no doubt helping people hear about using these substances in this way,” she said.

Companies producing products known to be fatal when ­inhaled should reformulate the substances to make them less toxic, she said.

“There is also a need to ­restrict access to products or better regulate their sale.”

It was revealed on Wednesday that calls to the Victorian Poisons Information Centre about chroming had almost doubled since 2019, with 47 inquiries last year.

Dr Shaun Greene, the medical director of the centre at Austin Health, described the situation as “very concerning”.

“Occasionally somebody passes away as a result of chroming or huffing and ­unfortunately that’s happened nearly every year in Australia for the past few decades,” he said.

“Whenever we see a rise in the number of people who are chroming then that’s ­concerning.”

Dr Greene said it was difficult for parents to tell what the signs of chroming looked like.

“Mums and dads are probably not going to see signs of chroming unless they come across a teenager using the product.

“The effects of the product are short-lived, so after the high disappears the individual returns to normal.

“Many of the calls we get are from a concerned parent or carer asking for information about their teenager who may be chroming and thankfully most cases do very well and survive.”

Esra has been described as a ‘most inspiring soul’. Picture: 9News

Esra’s devastated parents Paul and Andrea Haynes paid tribute to their “kind” and “generous” daughter, who was “taken too soon”.

“She was the most inspiring soul that anyone could have met. She didn’t get to live the way we hoped for but she did all the lovely childhood things,” Mr Haynes told the Herald Sun.

“She loved dancing and was a national aerobics champion in year six. She drove the whole team to gold medals in Queensland.”

Mr Haynes said it was the family’s “life’s mission” to raise awareness about the dangers of chroming.

“We want to help other children not fall into the silly trap of doing this silly thing,” he said. “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,” Mr Haynes said.

Tributes flow for ‘kind and gorgeous’ teen

Esra also raced BMX bikes with her brothers and was a member of the under-14 Girls team at Montrose Football Netball Clubwhere she had just been voted co-captain for 2023.

Mr Haynes said his talented daughter was “always there for her friends”.

“She’d do anything for anybody and was one in a million,” he said.

Mr Haynes said the family had been left “broken” and “devastated” by the death.

“She had her whole life ahead of her, she was the youngest but we gave her everything.”

Esra had three siblings, Imogen, Seth and Charlie, and Mr Haynes said they are “shattered to lose her at such a young age”.

Her siblings said: “We will always love our angel sister forever.”

A Department of Education spokesman said: “Lilydale High School and the Department of Education extend our deepest condolences to the family and friends of a year 8 student who died over the weekend.”

Tributes have poured in for Esra in the wake of her tragic death.

“Our hearts go out to the families, community and school that have been impacted by this tragic incident and the school will continue to provide support as required for all affected.”

The school is organising support for students and staff.

Esra’s best friend Abbey also wrote a touching tribute on Facebook, saying: “Esra Murray Haynes, my best friend.

“The one girl who could put a smile on anyone’s face no matter what. there wasn’t one day in the past 3 years you’ve not made my day by your contagious laugh and gorgeous smile,” she wrote.

“My heart aches and it doesn’t feel real knowing I’ll have to say goodbye to you Esra. “Your so young. you were gone too soon.”

“I’ll stay trying to make you proud. and continue doing the things that made you happy. I endlessly love and miss you Esra. Rest In Paradise my love,” Abbey wrote.

Esra’s death comes after NSW 16-year-old Bradley Hope also lost his life after inhaling from an aerosol in 2019.

“We as a society can’t afford to lose one more young life in this way … there must be answers or solutions to prevent this,” his mother Corinne Mair told an inquest last month.

In 2022, another 16-year-old from Broken Hill, Brooke Ryan, died after sniffing deodorant.

Shocked and heartbroken friends of Esra left messages on social media for the popular teen.

A tribute on TikTok by one school friend attracted more than 450,000 views by Monday night.

In another tribute, the Montrose Football Netball Club wrote on Facebook the community was “heartbroken” at the news of the passing of Esra.

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

“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.

“Our sincere sympathy and heartfelt condolences to Esra’s family, our support and love are with you all. Rest easy and fly high angel xx.”