Karnel Haughton

PFD Report Historic (No Identified Response) Ref: 2016-0339
Date of Report 23 September 2016
Coroner Emma Brown
Response Deadline est. 18 November 2016
Coroner's Concerns (AI summary)
Uncensored online videos promote dangerous 'choking game' activities, yet there is no national guidance for schools or support for parents, risking further injuries and deaths.
View full coroner's concerns
Karnel was likely to have been engaging in an activity known as the 'choking game' where pressure is applied to the neck by means of some sort of ligature to induce a sensation of near or actual fainting: Several witnesses gave evidence that on the internet, on sites such a5 you tube, there are thousands of videos of children and adolescents engaging in the 'Choking Game" the 'Pass out Challenge' and other activities whereby the children either on their own or with the assistance ofothers deliberately induce the sensation of fainting or passing out by various means, these videos are openly accessible, uncensored and contain no warnings. Information received by the West Midlands Police indicated that there have been other incidents of children seriously injured as a result of these sorts of activities across the country: being

Although local guidance and information for teachers has been issued by Birmingham City Council as a result of Karnel' s death there is no national guidance for schools or youth groups to alert them to these activities, the risks and provide details of warning signs. There is no charity or other institution which provides support and guidance to parents or children specifically on these activities if they have a concern: Leaving the raising of national awareness on this topic solely to the media is dangerous because there is a real risk that ifthe subject matter is not handled carefully children will be incited to experiment with these sorts of activities_
Sent To
  • Department for Education
  • National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children
Response Status
Linked responses 0 of 2
56-Day Deadline 18 Nov 2016
About PFD responses

Organisations named in PFD reports must respond within 56 days explaining what actions they are taking.

Source: Courts and Tribunals Judiciary

Report Sections
Investigation and Inquest
On 06/06/2016 commenced an investigation into the death of Karnel Kane Haughton: The investigation concluded at the end ofan inquest on 2Oth September 2016. The conclusion of the inquest was that Karnel' s death was a result of misadventure_
Circumstances of the Death
Karnel passed away at the age of 12 at the Birmingham Heartlands Hospital on the Ist June 2016 at 22.37 having been found unconscious at his home about 90 minutes earlier with a ligature loose around his neck that was attached to a bannister. It is likely that Karnel had been trying to experience the sensation of passing out; or coming close to passing out; and regaining consciousness without realising the extreme risk he was taking: Following a post mortem the medical cause of death was determined to be: 1(a) LIGATURE STRANGULATION
Action Should Be Taken
In my opinion action should be taken to prevent future deaths and believe you have the power to take such action:
Related Inquiry Recommendations

Public inquiry recommendations addressing similar themes

Single agency for high-risk children
Southport Inquiry
Missed Child Safeguarding Referrals
Detection of concerning online behaviour
Southport Inquiry
Harmful Algorithmic Content Promotion
School monitoring and filtering systems guidance
Southport Inquiry
Harmful Algorithmic Content Promotion
LCC online harms risk assessment review
Southport Inquiry
Harmful Algorithmic Content Promotion
VPN age verification
Southport Inquiry
Harmful Algorithmic Content Promotion
Internet access restrictions for high-risk children
Southport Inquiry
Harmful Algorithmic Content Promotion
Prevent training on online activity assessment
Southport Inquiry
Harmful Algorithmic Content Promotion
CT Policing online activity analysis capability
Southport Inquiry
Harmful Algorithmic Content Promotion
Significance of multiple referrals
Southport Inquiry
Missed Child Safeguarding Referrals
Addressing parental consent manipulation
Southport Inquiry
Missed Child Safeguarding Referrals

Data sourced from Courts and Tribunals Judiciary under the Open Government Licence.