Chilling social media warning issued after 12-year-old Oliver Gorman’s tragic death

A coroner has issued a warning about “toxic” social media algorithms after a schoolboy died from inhaling deodorant while copying a viral trend. Oliver Gorman, 12, was found unresponsive in his bed with empty aerosol cans around him after returning from a family holiday. He was rushed to hospital but could not be resuscitated.

The dangerous trend is widespread on social media, “particularly TikTok”, the court heard. Issuing a prevention of future deaths report – after concluding that Oliver had not intended to take his own life – the assistant coroner for Greater Manchester South warned more young people will die “unless platform providers take responsibility”.

Andrew Bridgman also called for age restrictions on the sale of aerosol deodorants as well as clearer warnings about the harm abuse can cause.

In May this year, Oliver and his family had returned home from a bank holiday weekend in Wales when the schoolboy said he was tired and went up to his bedroom, the coroner’s report said.

When his mother called for him just before 6pm he did not respond. She found him unresponsive, called 999 and carried out CPR until paramedics arrived, the coroner said. An empty can fell from his bed when his mother pulled the duvet back, and others were later found in the room by police.

The coroner said the craze of inhaling deodorant to “experience the buzz” is widespread on social media, “including – and particularly – TikTok”.

Mr Bridgman said: “It was not possible to access Oliver’s mobile phone to determine whether Oliver had indulged in (the craze) directly from TikTok. “The evidence was that it was, however, a challenge or practice known to be disseminated through TikTok.”

The coroner warned that “nothing appears to have changed” after a recent rise in such tragedies, adding that future deaths will occur unless action is taken.

“The posting of challenges … on social media platforms will continue to take the lives of young, impressionable and/or vulnerable children/teenagers unless the platform providers take responsibility for their content and/or toxic algorithms either voluntarily or through Government action,” Mr Bridgman continued. “The former seems unlikely.”

A fundraiser set up to support Oliver’s parents, Clare and Danny has already raised more than £10,000. Arranged by family friend Jennifer Waugh, she said they were hoping to raise enough to cover the cost of Oliver's memorial service, “in the hope that this is one less thing in this devastating situation that the family need to worry about.”

Jennifer said: “Oliver was a shining light who touched so many people, he was a loving, caring boy and we are hoping to raise enough funds to give him the extra special send-off that both him and his family deserves and honour his memory for years to come with Oliver's Awareness campaign.”

The GoFundMe page states any money raised not required to cover funeral costs will be used to launch a young person’s mental health awareness campaign in Oliver's memory called ‘Oliver's Awareness.’