Collapsed after SNS Trend 'One Chip Challenge'
"Autopsy Underway to Determine Exact Cause of Death"
A teenage boy in the United States died after participating in the 'One Chip Challenge,' which involves eating a spicy snack and enduring without drinking any beverages for a certain period. Local police are conducting an autopsy to determine the cause of death.
On the 3rd (local time), NBC Boston reported that 14-year-old Harris Walloba died on the 1st in Worcester, Massachusetts, after attempting the One Chip Challenge.
Harris Willoba, who died after participating in the 'One Chip Challenge' in the United States. Photo by NBC Boston
On the day of his death, Harris ate the One Chip snack given by a classmate at school and complained of severe abdominal pain. His parents, who were contacted, came to the school, and he left early to rest at home, regaining stability. However, a few hours later, while leaving the house, he suddenly lost consciousness and collapsed. He was immediately transported to a nearby hospital but eventually passed away.
The family claims that Harris died due to the One Chip Challenge. Harris's mother said, "After my son visited the nurse's office, he should have been sent to the hospital, not home," adding, "I hope others become aware of the dangers of the One Chip Challenge so that such tragedies do not happen again."
The Worcester police stated that the exact cause of death has not yet been determined and that an autopsy is being conducted to find out. They plan to launch a further investigation once the autopsy results are available.
Tortilla chips made with Caroliner Reaper peppers, 'One Chip Challenge' snack. [Photo by Paquichips]
The One Chip Challenge involves eating the spicy tortilla chip 'One Chip,' sold by Paqui Chips in the United States, and enduring without drinking water or any beverages afterward. It has gained popularity not only in the U.S. but also worldwide, including in Korea, over the past few years.
One Chip uses ingredients such as the Carolina Reaper, known as the world's hottest chili pepper. According to the Scoville scale, which measures spiciness, the Carolina Reaper scores 2.2 million. This is at least 220 times spicier than Korea's Cheongyang chili pepper, which ranges from 4,000 to 10,000 on the scale.
Meanwhile, there are concerns about other dangerous challenges trending on social networking services (SNS) like TikTok, which can cause injuries or even death. Examples include the 'Blackout Challenge,' where participants choke themselves until they faint to experience hallucination-like sensations, and the 'French Scar Challenge,' which involves deliberately pinching the face hard to create wounds. These challenges have sparked controversy.
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