How 12-Year-Old Boy Died Attempting Dangerous Online Challenge

The grieving parents of a 12-year-old boy who died trying a dangerous online challenge have blamed social media companies for allowing deadly trends to reach children.

Sebastian Cizman was found unconscious at his home in Glasshoughton, West Yorkshire, on the evening of Friday, June 27, 2025, while his family was celebrating his younger brother’s First Holy Communion.

Sebastian is thought to have been copying a harmful challenge that encourages kids to choke themselves until they pass out. This dangerous game has been linked to several child deaths worldwide. Health experts warn it can cause brain damage or death in less than five minutes.

On that Friday evening, Sebastian was found on the stairs of his family’s home with a sheet wrapped around his neck. Paramedics tried to save him but sadly he was pronounced dead at the hospital.

Now, Sebastian’s parents, Marcin and Kasia Cizman, have spoken out to warn other families about the dangers their children face online. They are also calling for social media companies to be held responsible for these harmful trends.

Kasia, 37, who works as an office clerk, said: “They should take the people who are promoting these challenges and put them in prison, so no other child dies.”

She added, “These platforms don’t do anything. It is completely unchecked. They make money and they don’t care.”

Kasia also shared her hope that her son’s death will raise awareness: “It’s hard what I’m going to say, but I hope that the loss of my child is going to help some other children to understand. And for the people that run these social media platforms to do something, to stop it from happening.”

She questioned, “How many kids have to die until they will do something?” and urged parents, “My message to other parents is check your children’s phones before it is too late.”

The tragic incident happened during what was supposed to be a joyful family day. Kasia said, “We were cooking downstairs, and the kids had all been playing on the trampoline.” Sebastian went upstairs to rest while the others were called for ice cream. When he did not come downstairs, his father asked where he was.

Kasia recalled, “His cousin said they were tired from jumping on the trampoline and that he went upstairs for a rest.” When they went to check, the children found Sebastian lying on the stairs with a sheet around his neck. “We ran upstairs and found him. He had taken a sheet from the duvet, which wrapped around his neck but not tightly. We called for an ambulance straight away and started to resuscitate him. We didn’t stop until the paramedics arrived.”

Despite social media rules that require users to be at least 13 years old, Sebastian, who was only 12, was able to access these platforms. Marcin said, “He was able to sign up for them with no questions asked. He was smart enough to do it. Smart enough to wriggle around it.”

Kasia added, “Most of his friends have accounts. There are children in primary schools with them. How can that be?”

Sebastian was a gifted boy who taught himself to play classical piano and guitar. Kasia described him as kind and caring: “He was a very intelligent boy who acted older than his years. Sebastian was full of empathy and so caring about other people. When anything happened, he was the first to help. He was so special. And I don’t understand. I really don’t.”

The police said they are investigating Sebastian’s death but do not believe it was suspicious. His phone will be examined as part of the inquiry.

A GoFundMe has been set up to help the family pay to bring Sebastian’s body back to Poland for burial. The fundraiser’s message says, “Sebastian lost his life because of an online challenge. His parents gave him all the love and care in the world – but that one moment online changed everything. So today, we ask you – as parents, guardians, friends: Talk to your children about what they do online.”

The family moved from Krakow when Sebastian was one year old and had planned to return to Poland next year. Marcin said, “We were preparing everything to go back to Poland, to Krakow.” He added sadly, “Now, we have to bring him in a coffin to the place where he dreamed to live.”

This tragedy follows a lawsuit filed earlier this year by parents of four British teens who died after taking part in similar TikTok challenges. The dangerous trends often appear in users’ feeds without them searching for them directly and have been widely condemned.

West Yorkshire Police confirmed, “Police were called by ambulance colleagues to an address in Manor Grove, Castleford, at 6.06pm yesterday (27/6) following reports of concern for the safety of a child. Officers attended the location and the boy was taken to hospital where it was later confirmed that he had died. Enquiries are ongoing on behalf of the West Yorkshire Coroner to establish exactly what happened. The incident is not being treated as suspicious.”

Source: Daily Mail
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