'Challenge' videos still on TikTok say grieving parents

Two grieving mothers who believe they lost their sons through dangerous TikTok challenges claim the app has not gone far enough to remove harmful content. Hollie Dance and Lisa Kenevan are campaigning for new disturbing “hold breath challenge” videos to be taken down after uncovering a plethora of concerning clips on the app.

- LYDIA PATRICK

Many of the clips feature imagery from the popular Minecraft game – viewers are prompted with dark messages of encouragement to keep going, such as “comment ‘bread’ if you are still holding your breath”.

Isaac Kenevan, 13, was a typical teenage boy who loved gaming and sports. But last March, a coroner ruled he died due to misadventure after Ms Kenavan found him lifeless on the bathroom floor in March 2022. The mother, from Essex, believes his death was due to an online “choking” challenge after police found two videos of him completing the challenge on his phone shortly before he died. She said: “I just think it’s a complete insult they’re putting our children in danger. We’ve lost our children – from someone putting these videos on our phones.”

The parents are worried the new “hold breath challenge” could lead to fatalities in the same way the “blackout challenge” did, which similarly dared users to hold their breath until they lost consciousness. It was linked to the deaths of three children. The Independent contacted TikTok, which has since taken down three of the new dangerous challenge videos reported by Ms Kenevan.

Archie Battersbee’s case hit the headlines when his mother Ms Dance lost a legal battle in 2022 to keep her son’s life support switched on after he suffered a catastrophic brain injury. She had discovered the 12-year-old unconscious on the stairs and also suspects he may have taken part in an online challenge. “The videos use captivating noises and challenge users to hold their breath as they are guided down a very long way,” she said.