A family has been left heartbroken after their “loving” and “warm” teenager was found dead after taking part in a dangerous social media trend. Tiegan Jarman, who lived in Thurmaston, Leicestershire, was found unresponsive in her bedroom on March 6.
Emergency services rushed to the family home and attempted to resuscitate her. However, devastatingly, the 13-year-old was pronounced dead at the scene. Tiegan’s family said her death was the result of an online trend called chroming – a form of solvent abuse.
The social media trend involves inhaling toxic fumes from common household items to get a temporary buzz.
Tiegan’s heartbroken father, who called his daughter “the most loving, daring girl ever” is warning of the dangers of social media.
Her father, Paul Jarman said: “She was the most loving, daring girl ever. She was warm, she was funny, she was quirky. She had a great laugh – and she made me laugh.
“My life was twisted upside down when she died, and I have to keep strong and carry on. She used to always call me Pookie. It’s just the funny little stuff.”
Her stepdad, Rob Hopkin, said: “We are not too sure if she had [tried chroming] before, as there is no way of tracing it. When it happened she had used at least one can of deodorant.
“She loved her pets – two dogs and a cat, and she loved spending time with her best friend Teigan. They would often spend weekends at each other’s houses.
“She used to enjoy winding her siblings up, especially Alisha, and she had a laugh that was so infectious and would light up a room. Once you met her, you could never forget her and she wanted to follow in her mum Sonia’s footsteps and work at the hospital or be an actress.
“Tiegan also loved watching the sunset in the evening. It has been devastating for the whole family, and our lives will never be the same again.”
Tiegan’s family are now hoping to spread awareness of the dangers of social media and the various trends that can put young people’s lives at risk.
Rob said: “It’s hard to feel angry in a strange way because it’s not one individual that has caused this.
“We believe that the social media sites should be better at controlling what’s shown on their sites. They seem to be able to control certain things like pornography, but do not seem that bothered about the trends that can kill instantly.”
Tiegan leaves behind three siblings, Brogan, 24, Callum, 17, and a sister, Alisha, 18, alongside four step-siblings.
Her sister Alisha has launched an online petition calling for the risks linked to certain social media trends to be included in a mandatory school education program.
