13-year-old California boy dies after participating in blackout challenge social media trend

Summary

A 13-year-old boy from Southern California, Nnamdi Ohaeri, Jr., known as "Deuce," was found dead in his room on February 3, 2024, after likely participating in the "blackout challenge," a social media trend involving holding one’s breath until losing consciousness. Deuce’s parents discovered him unresponsive the morning after he spent the evening with them watching the Grammys. His mother performed CPR while his father sought help from neighbors. Although Deuce did not have access to social media on his phone due to strict parental controls, his parents believe he may have learned about the trend elsewhere. His death is part of a pattern, as similar incidents have occurred in 2021, including the deaths of 10-year-old Nylah Anderson and a 12-year-old boy from the same cause. TikTok has been sued by the families of four teens who died from the blackout challenge. Deuce’s parents expressed feelings of guilt, questioning whether they could have done more to prevent his death.