'Her brain just didn't recover': Victorian schoolgirl dies after chroming with friends

Esra Haynes was 13 years old and should have had a lifetime to go.

"She was just blooming, she had so much ahead of her, it was just starting for her," her sister Imogen Haynes said.

But Esra will be forever young, she took her final breath on Saturday after more than a week on life support.

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The Victorian schoolgirl's "brain just didn't recover" after she went into cardiac arrest minutes after inhaling deodorant with friends, a dangerous practice known as chroming or huffing.

"She fought as hard as she could," Imogen said.

"Mum had to physically call us and say 'Esra's unconscious, you need to come now, she's lost her pulse, she's going to pass away'.

"Her lungs and her heart were strong but her brain just didn't recover."

The Year 8 Lilydale High School student died in the Royal Children's Hospital after her family made the heartbreaking decision to switch her life support off.

Her parents, Paul and Andrea Haynes, three siblings and a network of schoolmates are struggling to come to terms with the loss.

Worrying rise in 'huffing' incidents

People are known to get a "short-lived high" from inhaling solvents or other household chemicals and there's a concerning rise in incidents.

There was a 161 per cent increase in presentations last year at Victoria's Austin Hospital.

It's hard to regulate and easily accessible for adolescents.

"Many of these chemicals are accessible in the home... they don't carry the stigma of being an illicit drug or an illegal drug," Dr Shaun Greene, medical director of the Victorian Poisons Information Centre at Austin Health said.

"It's a class of chemicals and they're widely used in products and it would be very difficult for manufacturers to be expected to reduce the use of those products."

Greene said it was important for young people to understand the risks.

"It can still cause a lot of damage to your health," he said.

The Haynes family said their "life mission" will now be to raise awareness about the potentially fatal practice of inhaling solvents or other household chemicals.

"We want to help other children not fall into the silly trap of doing this silly thing," Paul Haynes said. 

"It's unquestionable that this will be our crusade.

"No matter how much you lead a horse to water, anyone can drag them away.

"It's not something she would have done on her own."

'One in a million' teen remembered by many

Tributes have flowed for the "beautiful" soul, who was an aerobics state champion who loved BMX riding with her brothers.

Her sister described her as "one in a million" while the Montrose Football Netball Club said members were "heartbroken".

"She was so kind, generous, she helped everyone before herself," Imogen said.

"Esra came to our club last year, she played in the Under-12 Girls team where she fitted in seamlessly," the club said in a post.

"In her short time at the club, Esra went from strength to strength as a leader on the field, and at training.

"Esra was named as one of the co-captains for the Under 14 Girls team for 2023.

"Esra was determined, fun, cheeky and talented, she will be greatly missed by her teammates, coaches, and the wider community of our club."

Jason Wood, the federal Liberal MP for La Trobe, also posted on social media.

"The community is mourning the loss of a determined and kind year 8 student," Wood wrote. 

"My thoughts and prayers are with her friends, family and wider community during this very difficult time."

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