# Dad of 11-Year-Old Who Died Playing the ‘Choking Game’ Warns About its Dangers

- Link: https://stayathomemum.com.au/news-opinion/general/dad-of-11-year-old-who-died-playing-the-choking-game-warns-about-its-dangers/
- Published: 2016-09-07T14:50:58+10:00
- Author: Clare Whitfield

## _The father of a young US middle-school football player who died after playing the ‘choking game’ has warned other parents about the dangers of the game._

Dad, Garett Pope Snr has told of his heartache after his 11-year-old son, Garett
Jr,�died after cutting off his airways by doing the ‘choking game’. He�explained
that his son, who was a�sixth-grade student from India Land, South Carolina in the
US, probably learned the game from his classmates.

[⌊Family warning about the dangers of the choking game to prevent tragedies⌉⌊Family warning about the dangers of the choking game to prevent tragedies⌉ ](https://i0.wp.com/stayathomemum.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/choke1a.jpg?quality=89&ssl=1)

> “Please know that his senseless death was not intentional. He took this terrible“
> game” too far,” he said.

The�’choking game’ refers to intentionally cutting off oxygen to the brain with 
the goal of inducing temporary euphoria and has seen young people uploading videos
on social media of themselves being choked.

The Lancaster County coroner’s officers reached a verdict of accidental death, which
had happened while Garret Jr was restricting his airways as part of the ‘game’.

[⌊Young boy smiling outside home highlighting dangers of the choking game⌉⌊Young boy smiling outside home highlighting dangers of the choking game⌉ ](https://i0.wp.com/stayathomemum.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/choke.jpg?quality=89&ssl=1)

However,�Garett Snr said he didn’t know where�his oldest son got the idea of playing
the ‘game’.�”We do not know where Garett learned this, but the logical source would
be from other kids in school, or in our neighborhood,” he said.

Now, he has�advised other parents of the dangers of the game.

> “My family has never felt pain like this before, and we don’t anyone else to go
> through what we are going through.�Please talk about this with your kids, and 
> do everything you can to prevent a similar tragedy,” he said.

He also said that he already�spoke to the principal about making sure that teachers
are aware of this ‘game’.

Source:�[Dailymail.co.uk](http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3775640/Middle-school-football-player-11-dies-playing-choking-game-apparently-learned-classmates.html)

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 Clare Whitfield Chief Editor

 Clare Whitfield is the Editor of Stay at Home Mum and a recognised voice in practical
home management for Australian families. Based in the northern suburbs of Sydney,
she balances editorial leadership with life as a stay at home mum to two school 
age children. Her background in home economics and more than a decade of experience
in recipe development, family budgeting, and household systems inform her work.

 [See Full Bio](https://stayathomemum.com.au/author/clare_whitfield/) [  ](https://stayathomemum.com.au/author/clare_whitfield/)