Australian television host Ally Langdon struggled to contain her emotion while speaking with parents forced to make an unthinkable decision—the decision to say goodbye to their child just 13 years after welcoming her into the world.
The interview, aired on A Current Affair, centered on the devastating loss of Esra Haynes, a Victorian teenager who died after participating in a dangerous social media trend known as chroming.
Langdon, herself a mother, became visibly emotional as Esra’s parents, Andrea and Paul Haynes, described the events that led to their daughter’s death and the painful aftermath that followed.
A Talented Teen With a Bright Future
Esra was remembered as energetic, confident, and full of life. She was a dedicated athlete who competed in BMX racing with her brothers and helped lead her aerobics team to a national championship in Queensland. Her local Montrose Football Netball Club described her as driven, fun-loving, and talented.
Nothing about the day she died suggested anything unusual.
On March 31, Esra went to a friend’s house for what her parents believed would be a normal sleepover.
“It was just the regular routine of going to hang out with her mates,” Andrea told Langdon.
A Viral Trend With Deadly Consequences
During the sleepover, Esra inhaled aerosol deodorant—an act associated with chroming, which involves breathing in household chemicals to achieve a brief high. Shortly afterward, she went into cardiac arrest, suffering severe and irreversible brain injury.
Paul described the phone call that changed their lives forever.
“We always knew where she was and who she was with,” he said. “Then we got that call—one no parent ever wants to receive—telling us to come and get our daughter.”
At the sleepover, friends initially believed Esra was experiencing a panic attack. In reality, her body was shutting down. Emergency responders later confirmed she had suffered cardiac arrest.
Andrea said she had never even heard the term “chroming” until paramedics mentioned it at the scene.
Days of Hope, Then an Impossible Decision
Esra was rushed to hospital and placed on life support. Her parents held onto hope, believing her strong heart and lungs might help her recover.
After eight days, doctors delivered devastating news: Esra’s brain damage was beyond repair.
Paul and Andrea were faced with the most painful choice of their lives.
Asked to gather loved ones for final goodbyes, Paul recalled lying beside his daughter in her hospital bed.
“We cuddled her until the end,” he said. “It was an incredibly difficult thing to do to such a young soul.”
Langdon, overwhelmed by the family’s grief, became tearful during the interview.
A Family and Community Left Shattered
Esra died in early April. Her parents say their family has been forever changed. Her siblings—Imogen, Seth, and Charlie—were left devastated, as were her friends and the wider community.
“We haven’t been sleeping, we’ve barely been eating,” Paul said. “It’s affected everyone—our family, her friends, the whole community.”
Turning Grief Into Awareness
Before Esra’s death, her parents had never heard of chroming. Now, they are determined to ensure other families are informed about the dangers.
Chroming can involve everyday items such as deodorant, paint, hairspray, or markers, and experts warn it can cause seizures, heart failure, suffocation, coma, and sudden death.
Since 2009, multiple child deaths across Australia and globally have been linked to the practice.
“If we had known about this,” Paul said, “we would have talked about it around our kitchen table.”
A Message to Parents Everywhere
The Haynes family is now focused on parent education and teen safety awareness, urging open conversations at home before children learn about risky behavior online or from peers.
“Parents need to sit down and gently start that conversation,” Paul said. “We didn’t know this was happening.”
Their goal, they say, is simple: to help prevent other families from experiencing the same loss.
A Tragedy That Sparks a Broader Conversation
Esra’s story has become part of a growing national discussion about viral social media challenges, adolescent risk behavior, and the importance of early education and prevention.
Her parents say the images and memories of that night will never fade—but if sharing their experience saves even one life, they believe speaking out is worth it.
Our thoughts remain with the Haynes family and all those affected by Esra’s passing.