Aurora Boy On Life Support After Trying Dangerous Online Choking Challenge

The parents of an Aurora boy are spreading the word about a dangerous online challenge encouraging children and teens to try to choke themselves.

They worry that the challenge is what led their 12-year-old son to end up on life support a week after he attempted to hold his breath for a long period of time.

"If I just give up on him, I'm just walking away from son," Haileyesus Zeryihun, the boy's father told CBS4. "He's a fighter, I can see him fighting, I am praying for him every day."

Zeryihun said his son Joshua was found inside a bathroom with a shoelace he used to choke himself.

"I couldn't take it there, I was on the floor, I was crying," said Zeryihun after seeing Joshua in the hospital. "It was just heartbreaking to see him, laying on the bed."

While there is no exact source of where Joshua got this idea, family members told CBS4 they are concerned he tried a version of the "Passout Challenge" or the "Blackout Challenge."

They say it has been around for a while on YouTube but could be gaining popularity on social media platforms like TikTok.

The family decided to speak out to possibly prevent another tragedy like this from happening.

“I would never imagine my son would do such a thing,” said Zeryihun. “I’m paying the price right now, I’m living the life, and I hate for other parents to go through this.”

A GoFundMe campaign for Joshua has already raised over $150,000.

Photo: Getty Images