A 12-year-old British schoolboy died after inhaling toxic fumes from aerosol deodorants in what authorities believe was linked to a dangerous social media trend known as “chroming,” according to an inquest held at Manchester South Coroner’s Court. The inquest concluded on October 23, 2025. Oliver Gorman was found unresponsive in his bedroom on Monday, May 5, 2025, just after returning home from a family holiday to Wales.
The Year 7 student from Hyde, Greater Manchester, had gone to his room around 4:30 p.m., telling his mother Clare Gillespie he felt tired. When she called to him and received no response, she entered his bedroom to find him beneath his duvet, not breathing. An empty Lynx deodorant can fell from under the covers as she moves the bedding. Emergency responders rushed Oliver to Tameside General Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 7:31 p.m.
A post-mortem examination recorded the cause of death as butane inhalation. Five aerosol cans were discovered scattered around Oliver’s bedroom—three Lynx products and two from Aldi, some of them empty. The inquest revealed Oliver had been exposed to the practice of inhaling aerosol fumes to achieve a high, a trend referred to as “chroming” or “huffing” that has circulated on social media platforms.
Assistant coroner Andrew Bridgman returned a verdict of death by misadventure, stating he did not believe Oliver had intended to take his own life. Bridgman indicated it was impossible to establish whether the boy had previously inhaled butane. The coroner expressed serious concerns about the inadequacy of warning labels on aerosol products and the ease with which children under 16 can purchase such items.
He added that the life-threatening challenges disseminated on TikTok were easily accessible and expressed his intention to write to both the business secretary and potentially the culture secretary about the matter. Furthermore, he also said he would write a Prevention of Future Deaths report and contact the British Aerosol Manufacturing Association and the Business Department about age restrictions.
“There is no evidence that Oliver deliberately inhaled the aerosol with the intention of ending his own life. It strikes me this chroming comes from TikTok challenges,” Bridgman stated during the hearing.
Clare Gillespie, 42, told the court that Oliver had been subjected to verbal bullying about his appearance, particularly regarding his blond curly hair. Other children would mockingly ask if his mother permed his hair, which left him feeling reluctant to attend school. However, Donald Cumming, principal of Denton Community Academy, reported that while pupils were aware of name-calling related to computer gaming, the school found no evidence of formal bullying. He noted that Year 7 students received warnings about drugs and online harm, but chroming was not specifically addressed as it was not on the school’s radar at the time.
The grieving mother revealed that Oliver had access to TikTok and that she had discovered certain symbols on his account that she later learned were also featured in the Netflix series Adolescence. She indicated her belief that Oliver, who was described as a sweet and lovely family boy, had felt low and turned to social media, but that she did not think he intended to take his life. Instead, she believed something went terribly wrong.
Fighting back tears during the inquest, Gillespie admitted she did not know if Oliver had engaged in the practice to escape his feelings. She noted the painful irony that every Christmas, the family joked about receiving an abundance of chocolates, deodorants, and gift sets. As a former hairdresser of 26 years, she shared that she could no longer use hairspray or similar products following her son’s death.
Following the hearing, Gillespie launched a petition called Oliver’s Awareness, committing to advancing a campaign to highlight the dangers of social media, solvent abuse, and bullying. She emphasized her desire to warn parents about the risks such products can pose, stating that if awareness could be raised in one place, it could spread to ten places or even a million. She expressed particular concern that every teenage boy receives Lynx products as gifts.
The mother issued a stark warning about social media platforms, describing them as a disgrace. She indicated that while she initially joined Facebook to communicate with relatives, the platform has evolved into spaces where people dare children to take their own lives or engage in potentially fatal activities. She urged parents not to buy their children solvents or keep them in their homes, adding that mobile phones purchased for safety purposes represent a significant gamble because parents cannot monitor what children access on them.
Coroner Bridgman called for age restrictions on the sale of aerosol deodorants and clearer warnings about the harm that abuse of such products can cause. He also backed the family’s campaign for under-18s to be barred from TikTok. However, police were unable to access Oliver’s mobile phone, leaving uncertainty about precisely how he became aware of the dangerous practice.
Oliver, who had two older brothers and loved animals, was remembered by his mother as having a strong social circle despite the challenges he faced.