Heartbroken parents bid farewell to daughter after a sleepover ends in tragedy!

Australia was shaken by the heartbreaking story of 13-year-old Esra Haynes, whose life ended far too soon after what should have been a harmless sleepover with friends. Her devastated parents, Andrea and Paul Haynes, shared their agony in an emotional interview on A Current Affair, describing the unbearable moment they had to make the decision no parent should ever face—turning off their daughter’s life support.

Esra’s death was caused by “chroming,” a dangerous social media trend where teens inhale fumes from household products—like deodorant sprays, paint, or hairspray—to feel a brief high. It’s a reckless, toxic act that has already claimed several young lives around the world. For the Haynes family, it was a tragedy they didn’t even know existed until it was too late.

Before that night, Esra was the kind of girl every parent dreams of raising—vibrant, athletic, and full of life. She co-captained her local Montrose Football Netball Club, competed in BMX races with her brothers, and helped her team win a national aerobics championship in Queensland. Her friends described her as “fun, cheeky, and determined”—a young leader who brought energy into every room she entered.

That Friday night, March 31, started like any other. Esra packed her bag for a sleepover, said goodbye to her parents, and headed out laughing with friends. There was nothing unusual about it. Andrea later recalled, “It was just the regular routine—hanging out, watching movies, doing what kids do.” Paul added, “We knew where she was, who she was with. There was nothing that worried us. Then, late that night, the phone rang. That’s the call every parent dreads—the one that changes your life forever.”

At the sleepover, Esra and her friends decided to try chroming—a fad they’d likely seen online or heard about through social media. None of them fully understood how deadly it could be. Within moments of inhaling aerosol deodorant, Esra collapsed. Her body began shutting down. Her heart stopped.

Her terrified friends thought she was having a panic attack and had no idea what to do. Precious minutes slipped away before help was called. By the time paramedics arrived, Esra was in cardiac arrest, her brain deprived of oxygen. They fought to revive her as Andrea rushed to the scene, unaware of what she was walking into.

“When I arrived, they were trying to save her,” Andrea said softly. “They told me she had gone into cardiac arrest. I had never even heard the word chroming before that moment.”

Esra was rushed to the hospital, placed on life support, and monitored around the clock. For eight agonizing days, her parents held onto hope. “She was strong,” Paul said. “She had a fighter’s heart. We thought maybe she could pull through.”

But as test after test came back, the truth became unbearable. The lack of oxygen had caused catastrophic brain damage. The doctors told the Haynes family there was no chance of recovery.

Andrea and Paul were left with an impossible choice.

“They asked us to gather family and friends to say goodbye,” Paul said, his voice breaking. “It’s the kind of moment that rips your soul apart. We laid her in our arms and held her until the very end. It was the hardest thing we’ve ever had to do.”

Journalist Ally Langdon, who interviewed the family, fought back tears as she listened. As a mother herself, she admitted the Haynes’ courage and honesty were both heartbreaking and inspiring.

The aftermath of Esra’s death has been devastating for everyone who knew her. Her siblings—Imogen, Seth, and Charlie—struggle to process the loss of their sister. The Montrose community, her sports teammates, and friends have all rallied around the family, leaving flowers, letters, and tributes. “We’re broken,” Paul said. “We can’t sleep, can’t eat, can’t smile. We’re just trying to breathe through each day.”

What makes their pain worse is how easily the tragedy could have been prevented—if only they had known.

Before Esra’s death, the Haynes family had never heard of chroming. They thought aerosol sprays were harmless everyday items. Now, they’re on a mission to make sure no other family learns about it the way they did.

“If we’d known,” Paul said, “we would have sat her down and talked about it. We would have explained what it was and how dangerous it could be. Parents need to have these conversations at the kitchen table—before something like this happens.”

Chroming isn’t new, but its reach has exploded in recent years thanks to social media. Videos of kids inhaling toxic fumes for laughs or likes have normalized a deadly behavior. Experts warn that the chemicals in these products can cause instant heart failure, seizures, suffocation, or brain damage. Even a single inhalation can be fatal.

Since 2009, dozens of deaths worldwide have been linked to chroming. Yet awareness remains shockingly low. The Haynes family is determined to change that by speaking publicly, even as they grieve.

“We need to educate both parents and children,” Paul emphasized. “The substances are easy to find—every home has them. That makes it even more dangerous. Kids think it’s harmless because it’s something they’ve seen adults use every day.”

He continued, “If kids are hearing about this from their friends or the internet, that’s already too late. We need schools, communities, and parents to start these conversations early—and often. It’s uncomfortable, but it could save a life.”

Esra’s story has already started to ripple through communities. Schools across Australia have begun holding awareness sessions, and parents are speaking up on social media, pledging to talk to their children about the dangers of inhalant abuse. But for the Haynes family, no campaign can bring their daughter back.

Paul’s final words during the interview were haunting: “We have images in our minds that will never go away. Our gut was ripped out that night, and it will never heal. But if telling our story can stop even one family from living this nightmare, then it’s worth it.”

Andrea nodded beside him, tears in her eyes. “Esra was everything to us. She was light, laughter, energy. We can’t change what happened, but we can make sure her death means something.”

The family has since launched a community outreach initiative in Esra’s name to educate teens about the dangers of chroming and substance abuse. They’ve been working with schools and health organizations to spread awareness, hoping to reach parents and children before tragedy strikes again.

Chroming might look like an innocent online “challenge,” but it’s a silent killer. The chemicals that create a quick high also shut down the body’s ability to breathe, starve the brain of oxygen, and trigger instant heart failure. The damage happens in seconds—and there’s often no second chance.

As Paul and Andrea continue to share their story, they remind others that this isn’t just about one mistake or one trend—it’s about giving kids the information they need to make safer choices. “We can’t assume they’ll figure it out on their own,” Andrea said. “We have to tell them. We have to be the voice that social media isn’t.”

Esra’s short life is now a call to action. Her family’s courage turns grief into purpose—a desperate attempt to make sure no other child dies from ignorance, and no other parent has to say goodbye in an ICU surrounded by machines.

In their words: “We lost our little girl to something we didn’t understand. Now we’ll spend the rest of our lives making sure others do.”