The family of a 14-year-old Worcester, Massachusetts teenager who passed away on Friday claims that a highly spicy chip that is the focus of a social media challenge was to blame for his demise.
Harris Wolobah, a sophomore at Doherty Memorial High School, was mourned by the Worcester educational community, according to a statement released on Sunday by Worcester Public Schools Superintendent Rachel Monárrez, who called him “a rising star.”
Although the results of an autopsy were pending, Harris Wolobah’s mother told media that the family believed the adolescent passed away as a consequence of problems from the One Chip Challenge.
In the challenge, participants must consume what is allegedly the spiciest tortilla chip in the world and then wait as long as they can before consuming anything to ease their discomfort. The Paqui chip is packaged in a coffin and comes with a warning that it should be kept out of the reach of minors, should only be consumed by adults, and should not be consumed by anyone with allergies or those who are sensitive to spicy food.
According to a Paqui website for the One Chip Challenge, anyone experiencing breathing difficulties, fainting, or persistent nausea is recommended to seek medical attention.
Harris’ mother, Lois Walobah, told NBC10 Boston that a nurse summoned her to the school on Friday and that her son informed her that a classmate gave him the chip, causing him to have horrible stomach pain. She said that although he felt better when they returned home, the boy passed out just as he was preparing to depart for basketball tryouts at 4:30 p.m.
Several years have passed since the One Chip Challenge first began. Some school administrators in the Bay Area of California last year issued a warning on the issue, stating that pupils had to be sent home.
