Archie Battersbee died in the most tragic of circumstances. The 12-year-old boy suffered irreversible brain damage after collapsing at home.
His mother, Hollie Dance believes he may have been taking part in an online “blackout” challenge, which encourages people to choke themselves until they pass out.
It is one of several dangerous crazes found on the internet. Others dare people to burn themselves with aerosol sprays, take unsafe levels of medication and cause electric shocks.
Archie’s family claim the blackout challenge alone may be responsible for as many as 82 deaths since it began 14 years ago.
Not for the first time the tech firms stand accused of putting profits before responsibility.
It is obvious they are not doing nearly enough to monitor these vile videos.
The Government needs to bring forward the much-delayed Online Safety Bill which would protect children from harmful content.
While ministers drag their feet the lives of impressionable young people are at risk.
NHS fuels fear
When patients are waiting more than 40 hours for an ambulance it is clear the NHS is struggling to cope.
Health chiefs are warning soaring energy prices will put more pressure on the service.
The NHS Confederation says Britain faces a humanitarian crisis this winter because people cannot afford to heat their homes.
Without urgent action, there will be more deaths from cold and more hypothermia cases.
Neither of the Tory leadership candidates, Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak, appears to have grasped the seriousness of the situation.
They have no proper plan to tackle the worst cost of living crisis in living memory.
Mullet over..
Inflation and strikes are not the only things back in fashion from the 1970s: mullet haircuts are making a return.
The style will continue to divide opinion, whichever way you cut it.
