An eight-year-old boy has died after taking part in the viral ‘deodorant challenge’.
The social media stunt sees participants try to inhale spray from a can of deodorant for as long as they can.
But little Bryan Maciel Lopes fell ill after inhaling the toxic fumes from the deodorant at his home in Valinhos, Brazil.
He had reportedly taken part in the viral challenge after seeing his friends do it.
His brother, 21, told police how he had left home to buy bread.
When he returned home from the bakery minutes later, he said, he found his brother unconscious on their parents’ bed.
Next to him was a can of deodorant and a notebook.
He called emergency services and Bryan was taken to a local hospital. En route, he suffered two cardiac arrests.
Medics managed to revive him four times. But his condition worsened and he was transferred to a larger hospital.
Hours later, he tragically died.
The tragedy follows that of Joao Victor Santos Mapa, the 10-year-old who died after taking part in the same challenge.
Joao died after inhaling deodorant in the wardrobe at his home in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, on 25th August.
His grieving grandmother, Elaine Aparecida Silva, told local media shortly after the tragedy: “There are several ways to do this challenge, always inhaling the product.
“And Joao inhaled the product inside his wardrobe. When his brother opened the wardrobe door, he fell out.”
Paramedics arrived on the scene and tried to revive Joao but unsuccessfully. He was buried in nearby Sabara on 26th August.
Elaine said: “Joao was a very smart child, a very intelligent child, a trendsetter. He always wanted to see new things.”
Police said in a statement that Joao’s death would be investigated but revealed his body showed no signs of violence.
According to some reports, Joao inhaled close to half a can of deodorant before he passed out.
His father, Fabiano Teixeira Santos, presciently warned of the dangers of social media challenges, telling local media: “Today it was my son, tomorrow it will be someone else’s.”
He added: “He liked the internet a lot and watched the videos on TV. I ask everyone to look out for and take care of their children.
“The internet offers many good things, but it has bad things too.”
