Warnings over TikTok 'Tap Out' challenge popularised by Logan Paul
Warnings over disturbing TikTok ‘Tap Out’ challenge popularised by Logan Paul which is sweeping schools and putting children’s lives at risk as ‘game’ sees youngsters put one another in chokeholds until they pass out
Pupils have been trying out the deadly ‘tap out’ chokehold challenge – popularised by YouTube and TikTok star Logan Paul – in a worrying trend back in the spotlight since the death of a student at Lewis Capaldi’s former school, it was revealed today.
Hamdan Khaliq died after he was rushed to hospital after an incident at St Kentigern’s Academy in Blackburn, West Lothian, Scotland, on Tuesday.
Members of his family claimed that he had died when a ‘bully’ choked him as part of an online challenge. Police are investigating but are said to have dismissed the theory as social media speculation. The school has called it an ‘isolated incident’.
Annabel Turner, director of the Cyber Safe Scotland group, has warned parents to keep a careful eye on what their children are looking at online and revealed children in several schools have been trying it.
MailOnline has found a significant number of ‘tap out’ videos available on TikTok. Logan Paul, the influential social media star and fighter behind the Prime energy drink craze, shared a video of him being choked just yesterday to his 17.5million followers. Some of the comments under them are from users declaring that they want to attempt it.
Logan Paul shared a choking video where he tapped out just yesterday on TikTok
Other ‘tap out’ videos are easy to find online as online experts warned that schoolchildren have been trying it
Ms Turner said: ‘The Police have clarified that the challenge was not the cause of his death. However, we are aware that children are very aware of the challenge at the moment and we have received reports of them acting it out. It is incredibly dangerous and children need to have the dangers of it explained to them plainly in a way they can understand. Please explain it to your child clearly so that they know not to copy it but can also alert someone urgently if they see anyone else doing it’.
First Minister’s sadness after death of boy, 14
First Minister Humza Yousaf has sent his condolences to the family of a 14-year-old boy who died at school.
Police say the teenager died in an ‘isolated incident’ at St Kentigern’s Academy in Blackburn, West Lothian, on Tuesday.
Fiona Hyslop, the local MSP, raised the incident during First Minister’s Questions at Holyrood on Thursday.
She said the boy’s family are facing an ‘unimaginable heartache’, as she stressed the importance of not speculating on the cause and protecting their privacy.
Ms Hyslop also urged the First Minister to ensure any lessons learned from the boy’s death are implemented.
Responding, Mr Yousaf said: ‘This is the worst tragedy, anybody who is a parent will know there cannot be a worse fear, a worse nightmare, that any parent has than losing a child, so I cannot think what the family are going through.’
The community in West Lothian, including the wider school community, has been ‘deeply, deeply affected’ by the death, the First Minister said.
He added: ‘I would echo Fiona Hyslop’s calls, both in terms of not speculating on what has happened – there will be an appropriate investigation and, of course, absolutely, lessons should be learned not just by the local authority and educational institutions but of course there may well be lessons for Government to consider as well.
‘Fiona Hyslop’s second call is so, so important. As well as going through what is every parent’s worst nightmare, the family should be able to grieve in privacy and not have any further media intrusion or indeed speculation into what is the most unimaginable tragedy.’
She added in a Facebook post: ‘We have directly heard children talking about the challenge this week (including references to trying it) in our partner schools’.
The ‘tap out’ game – also known as the fainting game, hangman, elevator, and blackout – is often played by groups of teens who partner up and cause each other to lose consciousness.
But it can also be played alone and there are tragic cases where young people have died while being watched by friends online.
The terrifying game first became a horrifying trend around a decade ago before rearing up again around two years ago. Videos can be viewed on several social networks including TikTok,
Parents have been urged to speak to their children and urge them against trying it.
Experts have also warned adults to look for signs that young people have had a go at the deadly game, including severely bloodshot eyes, marks on the neck, complaints of frequent severe headaches and disorientation after spending time alone.
In 2022 a grieving mother revealed how her son died in front of his friends while attempting a deadly TikTok choking challenge.
Leon Brown, of Cumbernauld, Scotland, was just 14-years-old when he was found unresponsive in his bedroom.
His heartbroken mother, Lauryn Keating, issued a warning to fellow parents after her son’s friend revealed he had wanted to replicate the choking game after seeing it on the video-sharing app.
The mother of Archie Battersbee claimed her young son was taking part in an online blackout challenge before he died. Although the coroner said there was ‘no evidence he took part in ‘blackout challenge’.
Hamdan Khaliq’s death has devastated his family and the local community.
Kentigern’s Academy, where singer Lewis Capaldi and comedian Fern Brady were once pupils, said there had been an ‘isolated incident’ within the grounds. Witnesses reported seeing Hamdan having a seizure.
His heartbroken cousin, Zain Mohammed, 29, said: ‘Hamdan was being bullied for being different. He was put in a chokehold and it’s being passed off as a game called Tap Out.’
He told the Daily Record: ‘Hamdan was innocent and gentle and wouldn’t hurt a fly. He was reserved and he didn’t speak very much.
‘He was a good boy and so family oriented. We can’t believe he is gone. It’s a devastating loss. We loved him very much.’
14-year-old schoolboy Hamdan Khaliq died this week. Two members of his family claimed he died ‘after being put in a chokehold’, the police have said this is speculation
Leon Brown, of Cumbernauld, Scotland, (pictured above with his mother) was just 14-years-old when he was found unresponsive in his bedroom and died after reportedly attempting the same dangerous TikTok trend
Archie Battersbee, the 12-year-old boy left in a comatose state after suffering brain damage. His mother asked a coroner to examine the role of TikTok in his death
A ‘tap out’ game is when a person is held in a chokehold and their neck is squeezed until they nearly pass out. They are supposed to ‘tap out’ before they lose consciousness.
A Police Scotland spokesman said: ‘Around 1.20pm on Tuesday June 6, officers were called to a report of concern for a 14-year-old boy at a school in the Bathgate area.
‘He was taken by ambulance to hospital for treatment, but died a short time later.
‘His family have been informed and inquiries are ongoing to establish the full circumstances of the death.’
A statement posted on the school’s website said emergency services were called following an isolated incident within the school grounds.
Headteacher Andrew Sharkey said: ‘Everyone in our school community has been devastated to learn of the tragic death of one of our pupils.
Emergency services were called to St Kentigern’s Academy in Blackburn, West Lothianon Tuesday
The school, where singer Lewis Capaldi was once a pupil, said there had been an ‘isolated incident’ within the grounds
Headteacher Andrew Sharkey said: ‘Everyone in our school community has been devastated to learn of the tragic death of one of our pupils’
The school, where singer Lewis Capaldi (pictured) and comedian Fern Brady were once pupils, said there had been an ‘isolated incident’ within the grounds
A floral tribute left at St Kentigern’s Academy to Hamdan after the incident on Tuesday
‘Our thoughts and prayers are with their family and friends and we extend our deepest condolences and offers of support.
‘We have set up ongoing emotional support and signposting for students and staff affected by this tragic news.
‘We would like to respect the family’s privacy at this incredibly painful time.
‘We are assisting the relevant authorities with their investigation to establish the facts and we will not be making any further comment at this time.’
Meanwhile Sana Khaliq said that her cousin had suffered a ‘horrible death’.
She wrote on social media: ‘With a heavy heart our cousin Hamdan from Harthill passed away today.
‘His life was lost during break time today at St Kentigerns Academy. Poor boy suffered a horrible death whilst many stood around and watched.’
The parent council at Broxburn Academy, which is nearby, wrote on social media: ‘Our thoughts go out to the family today and we wish to share to prevent this tragedy happening to anyone else, a family are grieving today.
‘Please warn your children not to play tap out (putting another child in a headlock until they tap to be released). It can have serious consequences.’
Martyn Day, SNP MP for Linlithgow and East Falkirk, said: ‘My deepest condolences go to the family and friends of the S3 pupil at St Kentigern’s who sadly died yesterday after an incident at the school.
‘I would ask everyone to respect the family’s privacy whilst a full investigation takes place into this tragic incident.’
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