Schoolboy, 12, dies in West Yorkshire after trying social media challenge as family warn of dangers
A family have warned of the dangers of a social media challenge after their 12-year-old son died trying it for himself.
Sebastian, 12, was at home celebrating his younger brother's First Holy Communion at a residential address on Manor Grove in Castleford, West Yorkshire, before being found unresponsive.
Emergency services, including Yorkshire Ambulance Service, West Yorkshire Police, and a Yorkshire Air Ambulance, were dispatched to the scene at 6:06pm.
The teenager was rushed to hospital in a large police-escorted convoy, but despite efforts to save him, he was sadly pronounced dead.
Local residents noted a significant emergency presence, with multiple vehicles responding to the incident.
Sebastian's father Marcin suggested his son died whilst trying a viral challenge which involves a scarf.
Authorities are continuing their enquiries to establish the full details of Sebastian's death.
This heartbreaking incident serves as a stark reminder of the risks posed by dangerous online challenges, urging parents and guardians to remain vigilant about the content young people engage with on social media.
West Yorkshire police said: '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.'
It comes after the parents of four British teenagers filed a lawsuit against TikTok in February over the deaths of their children, which they claim were the result of the same challenge.
The lawsuit claims Isaac Kenevan, 13, Archie Battersbee, 12, Julian 'Jools' Sweeney, 14, and Maia Walsh, 13, died in 2022 while attempting it.
A GoFundMe page has been set up to support Sebastian's family and cover funeral costs.
The statement on the fundraiser describes the teenager as 'a boy full of dreams, passion, and incredible talent'.
It added: 'He taught himself to play the guitar and keyboard, and he loved to draw. Always smiling, kind, and full of joy - everyone who met him was touched by his gentle spirit.
'He had loving parents who did everything they could to give him a safe and happy childhood. They would have given him the stars. Sadly, one brief moment changed everything. A dangerous internet challenge took his life.
'What happened is a tragedy beyond words. No parent should ever have to bury their child. No one should ever endure such heartbreak. That's why we're reaching out today, asking for your help.
'We're organising this fundraiser to support Sebastian's family - to help cover funeral expenses, psychological support, and daily costs that suddenly became overwhelming. Every donation, no matter the amount, is not just financial support - it's a message of compassion: "We're with you."
'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.
'Ask what they watch, who they talk to, what inspires them. Be present. Don't assume: "My child would never do that." The online world can be as dangerous as the real one - sometimes even more so.
'Let Sebastian's passing not be in vain. Let it be a quiet call for awareness - a reminder to stay close, to talk more, to protect the ones we love. So that other children may live. So that no other parent has to experience this unimaginable pain.
'Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for any kind of support - donations, shares, or simply a few comforting words. Sebastian will remain in our hearts forever.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
34 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Police pushing for almost £3,000 in legal fees from grieving domestic abuse campaigner
A grieving domestic abuse campaigner is being chased for almost £3,000 of legal fees by a 'vindictive' police force after she took them to court over her niece's death. Lorna McMahon claimed Greater Manchester Police (GMP) had neglected to investigate the potential role of domestic violence in the case of her family member Teresa McMahon, who was found dead in her flat in August 2021 aged 43. She suggested the force should have looked more deeply into the impact of her niece's former partner Robert Chalmers. But an inquest disagreed and ruled that Teresa, who had been an ITV journalist, took her own life and 'no other person forced her to do that'. Following a watchdog's decision to refuse her request for a reinvestigation, Ms McMahon lost a legal action. Now GMP are chasing £2,778.40 in legal fees despite being urged by a High Court judge to think 'very carefully' about whether this was a good idea, the Telegraph reports. Judge Matthew Butt KC denied the aunt's application for the costs order to be delayed until all matters regarding the 'inadequate investigation' into her niece's death had finished. He confirmed he did not possess the power to grant such a request but said the heartbreaking circumstances of the case called into question whether it was right to pursue the legal costs. The judge said: 'I would urge the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) and Greater Manchester Police (GMP) to consider very carefully whether, in all of the circumstances, it would be right to seek to enforce the costs order against Ms McMahon given the tragic death of her beloved niece, the recent death of Teresa's mother, Barbara, the health problems Ms McMahon suffers from, and her limited means.' He added he had been impressed by the 'dedication, eloquence and determination' of the aunt in her bid to secure a reinvestigation. Judge Butt continued: 'I have also read a letter to the claimant from Queen Camilla in which she expresses how she is full of admiration for her work.' The IOPC decided not to chase the costs but GMP pushed on with retrieving the legal fees from Ms McMahon. In a letter to the force, she wrote: 'I find it absolutely vexatious and vindictive that GMP's police chief, Stephen Watson, appears to have singled me out when choosing to enforce this particular cost order, especially since Mr Justice Matthew Butt urged GMP not to pursue the cost order made against me considering all the circumstances.' Teresa, a news editor at Granada News, was found dead in her flat in Little Hulton, Salford. She had reported broken fingers, and even potentially a broken rib, to GMP before her death. The journalist was 'mistakenly' told by an officer that she was not entitled to receive information about Chalmers' alleged history of domestic abuse because they were no longer in a relationship, the inquest heard. The force then attempted to contact her to inform her she might be entitled to the details under Clare's Law but it received no reply. Chalmers denied either physically hurting Teresa or trying to control her, during video evidence given after his arrest for failing to attend her London inquest. He admitted, however, that their relationship had been volatile. A GMP spokesman said: 'Our thoughts remain with Mrs. McMahon after the tragic death of her niece and while officers worked tirelessly to provide her with answers, we recognise we weren't able to provide the closure she was seeking despite the thousands of hours spent reviewing complaints and opening new investigations. 'We always carefully consider the circumstances of individuals when seeking to recover costs lawfully ordered by the court. As a public body, the force must balance these considerations against its obligations to protect scarce public funds.'
Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
As three submarine captains are stripped of their OBEs... How one brave woman – with the Mail's help – exposed a culture of sexual abuse, vile misogyny and bullying among the Royal Navy's top rank
For more than a century, the Royal Navy's submarine service has operated behind a thick curtain of secrecy – a shadowy world of steel corridors and sonar silence, where power is absolute, scrutiny seemingly minimal and those in command are lionised as guardians of our country's deadliest weapons. But now, that carefully curated image is unravelling as the elite service faces perhaps its most damning reckoning yet.
Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE The loving friendship that turned to murder: Chilling messages between 'gentle giant' lodger and his elderly landlady before he suffocated her with a pillow and chopped up her body
Chilling messages and phone calls between a lodger and his 74-year-old landlady before he murdered her have been revealed today for the first time. Scott Paterson, 45, suffocated vulnerable Annette Smith with a pillow at their shared home before dismembering her body and hiding her remains in a storage unit. He tried to cover up her murder and pretended she was still alive by using her email account to send Christmas messages and Moonpig cards to family and friends. Paterson, of Fairfield, Bedfordshire, used a kitchen knife and saw to cut up her body in November 2023 - and was jailed for at least 19 years in November last year. Now, Channel 4 's new series of 24 Hours In Police Custody, which airs this Sunday, has revealed their friendly chats - including a text exchange before he moved in. Paterson wrote: 'Hi Annette would Weds next week be ok to move in? x' Ms Smith replied: 'elo luvly Supa... pls start moving on Wed. Whoopee! A xxx' And Paterson said: 'Thanks Annette, can't wait! Xx' The programme, which follows the police investigation, also featured recordings of two calls between the pair - with one featuring her arranging dinner for him. It began with Paterson saying: 'Hello.' Ms Smith then said: 'Hello darling, just to let you know, I've ordered you salmon and pilau rice, so you've got something to eat when you get in.' Paterson replied: 'Brilliant, that's lovely, thank you.' And Ms Smith said: 'I'll see you soon' A text exchange between lodger Scott Paterson (right) and his 74-year-old landlady Annette Smith (left) before he murdered her was revealed in Channel 4's 24 Hours In Police Custody The second call saw Ms Smith organise a drink for Paterson because he was tired. It started with Paterson saying: 'Oh hi darling, it's Scott.' Ms Smith replied: 'Hiya darling, you must be knackered?' Paterson said: 'Yeah.' And Ms Smith told him: 'Would you like me to get you a drink or something?' He replied: 'Yeah that's great, lovely, thank you.' The documentary also reveals Paterson talking about the loving friendship he had with Ms Smith after reporting her missing - despite having already murdered her. Paterson claimed to police that Ms Smith had been missing for several weeks and he last saw her being collected from the house by a woman after packing a suitcase. He also said Ms Smith told her she would be gone for a few days – and the video showed him becoming emotional while telling detectives about their friendship. Paterson said: 'I'd known Annette for maybe nearly 15 years. She offered me somewhere to stay. Initially it was going to be 12 months and it turned into 12 years. 'We'd get on like a house on fire. We'd go to the theatre, we'd go out for dinner, we'd go on holidays. So we always just got on really well.' Pictures of Annette Smith also form part of the new programme airing on Channel 4 on Sunday He then appeared to choke up, with the detective saying: 'We can have a break if you want a break, yeah?' Paterson replied: 'Sorry' – but she said: 'No, no, it's alright.' Attempting to cover up her murder, Paterson tried to pretend Ms Smith was still alive by sending emails and cards to friends and relatives. However, in April 2024, concerns were raised by relatives and an investigation was launched by the Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire (BCH) Major Crime Unit. Detectives discovered her passport and clothing were still at the home, with her laptop which had sent the Christmas messages. After being arrested, Paterson was asked whether he was responsible for her murder in a police interview – and simply replied: 'Yes'. He also directed police to a storage unit where he had hidden her remains –and was later sentenced to life imprisonment at Luton Crown Court. The court heard that they had met 14 years earlier and Ms Smith had offered him rent-free accommodation in her home after Paterson experienced a 'relationship breakdown'. In 2018, Ms Smith suffered a stroke which limited her mobility and Paterson took on caring responsibilities, including collecting prescriptions and doing her shopping. In 2023, her estranged husband Peter Smith, who held a 20 per cent stake in the home, had asked her to sell the property because of his struggling business. Ms Smith initially did not want to move out, but Paterson claimed he 'felt pressured' to encourage her to go through with a sale. He also said she had become 'more demanding' since her stroke five years earlier. Eventually Ms Smith agreed to speak to estate agents, who continued to market the property after her death. On November 8, 2023, Paterson entered Ms Smith's bedroom and suffocated her with a pillow. He left her in her bed and drank a bottle of wine before dragging her body into the bathroom and wrapping it in a green blanket. Prosecutors told the court he had continued to talk to her about 'every day things like normal'. He moved the body to a cupboard under the stairs after receiving notice that a photographer from the estate agent would be coming to take pictures of the house. Paterson, who was working on a deli and butcher counter at a farm shop at the time, later dismembered Ms Smith's body with a kitchen knife and saw. He wrapped parts of her body in plastic bags and hid her torso inside a black suitcase, which he took to the storage unit in Letchworth. In an effort to pretend she was still alive, Paterson used his victim's email address to send Christmas messages and Moonpig cards to family and friends. However, in January 2024, Ms Smith's family raised concerns with Bedfordshire Police about her welfare. Officers initially said there was insufficient evidence to deem Ms Smith a missing person, but in April that year launched a high-risk missing person investigation after her family found her passport, mobile phone and other personal belongings in her home. When he was arrested, Paterson made a full admission and directed police to a storage unit where he had hidden her remains. He said he had considered killing Ms Smith at least twice before and had only stopped himself when he reached her bedroom door. He also told officers he had racked up £30,000 in credit card debt and admitted that he had been stealing jewellery from Ms Smith, both while she slept and after her death. He had been selling the jewellery on Cash4Gold, the court heard. Ms Smith's stepson, Jason Smith, described his stepmother as a 'very kind and caring person' who was 'always there for me throughout the years'. Paterson, wearing a blue polo shirt and grey trousers, bowed his head and kept his eyes closed as Mr Smith spoke in court. He told the courtroom he had initially believed the defendant, described by other witnesses as a 'gentle giant', was a 'nice guy', but that in reality he was an 'evil man'. He added: 'I will never forgive (him) for what he did, I hate him from the bottom of my heart.' A tribute from Ms Smith's family read: 'We are totally heartbroken and devastated that Annette has been taken away from us in such a cruel and senseless way. 'She was a beautiful, caring, trusting and generous lady, who meant so much to so many people. Annette, rest in peace with those who will love and take care of you.' Buckinghamshire Police Detective Chief Inspector Katie Dounias, who led the investigation, said of the documentary: 'This two-part episode captures the meticulous work of our detectives as we pieced together CCTV footage, forensic evidence, digital footprints and witness statements to uncover the truth about what happened to Annette. 'In the show, our care for Annette as a victim is evident, and the team really do stop at nothing to ensure that we seek answers on behalf of her and her family. 'This was a case which shook the community of Stotfold and Bedfordshire more widely. 'It also highlights some of the most complex aspects of modern-day policing and showcases the professionalism of our officers in the face of the most horrific of crimes.' Bedfordshire Police Chief Constable Trevor Rodenhurst added: 'As always, 24 Hours in Police Custody offers an unfiltered look at the police service, highlighting the dedication, compassion, and resilience of officers who are often working under intense pressure, on some of the most traumatic incidents most people could ever imagine.' 24 Hours in Police Custody: The Butcher Of Suburbia starts this Sunday at 9pm on Channel 4, and concludes the following evening, Monday, at 9pm on Channel 4
