The family of a 13-year-old boy who tragically died has issued an urgent warning against chroming.
On June 27, 2024, 17-year-old Nicky Lowther was found unconscious at his home in Canterbury, Kent, by his mother.
Despite frantic efforts to save him, Nicky tragically passed away in the hospital.
Now, his grieving aunt, Toni Lowther, is speaking out urging parents to have honest, open conversations with their children about the deadly risks of chroming, in hopes of preventing more heartbreaking losses like Nicky’s.
Chroming also known as “huffing” is a dangerous trend gaining traction among teens, with some even recording themselves inhaling fumes and sharing the videos on social media.
Toni Lowther, a bar supervisor and Nicky’s aunt, rushed to the hospital upon learning that the 17-year-old had been inhaling aerosol fumes before he collapsed.
Unfamiliar with the viral trend until that tragic day, Toni now describes it as both “shocking” and “incredibly dangerous.”
The 35-year-old mother of two revealed that around a dozen aerosol cans were later discovered in Nicky’s bedroom.
“By the time we got to the hospital, Nicky had already passed away,” she said.
“We later found out he’d been inhaling aerosols, but I had no idea just how severe or deadly it could be.”
While it remains unclear how many cans he may have used that day, the discovery of 12 in his room painted a sobering picture.
“There’s no safe way to do this,” Toni added. “Inhaling aerosols is incredibly dangerous — it can take a life in minutes.”
Reflecting on her nephew’s life, Toni Lowther shared warm memories of Nicky:
“To us, he was just a cheeky chappy with a dark sense of humor always making us laugh,” she said. “We were very close. We did everything as a family.”
After his passing, Toni and the family visited Nicky’s school, where they discovered just how deeply he had impacted others.
“We learned so much more about him how kind and caring he really was,” she said. “People looked up to him. If anyone was being picked on, Nicky was the one they turned to. He always looked out for others.”
Now, Toni is urging parents to speak openly with their children about the dangers of chroming.
“I’d never even heard of it before,” she admitted. “After Nicky died, I started hearing stories about other kids doing it some survived, some didn’t.”
She added, “I was horrified to learn there are even videos on social media showing how to do it.”
Her message is clear: “Kids need to understand how dangerous this is. It can kill and it can happen fast.”
In the wake of her nephew’s tragic death, Toni Lowther has launched an online petition calling for restrictions on the sale of aerosol products to young people — in hopes of preventing future lives from being lost. The petition has already garnered over 5,000 signatures.
“This didn’t have to happen,” Toni said. “That’s the most painful part. Nicky’s death was so preventable.”
She reflected on all the milestones her nephew will now never reach:
“Leaving school, going to prom, passing his driving test, getting married, having kids… all those moments are just gone.”
“It still doesn’t feel real,” she added. “The pain is still so raw.”
Toni is now calling attention to how easily accessible these dangerous products are.
“Anyone can buy aerosols and that’s insane,” she said. “This is happening far too often. I felt like I had to act.”
While she knows nothing can bring Nicky back, she hopes his story will serve as a powerful warning to others.
“Nicky couldn’t be saved,” she said, “but maybe his story can save someone else’s child.”
