Blue Whale ‘suicide’ game fears as lad, 14, is left fighting for his life in case his mum claims is linked to the terrifying online craze
A BOY of 14 is fighting for his life after a reported suicide attempt in a case his mum believes is linked to the sick Blue Whale craze.
The unnamed teenager was rushed to hospital unconscious after being found lying in the bathroom by his parents.
His family said the lad had been following online instructions in the dangerous Blue Whale game that encourages teens to kill themselves after beating 50 different challenges.
The boy’s mother, called Monica, said: "I knew that game existed, but I never imagined that he would be able to do something like this.
"When we were told about this game, we told him to take care because this game was very dangerous.
"He answered us, ‘Mum, I would never play this because it is satanic’."
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The mother said she did not notice anything was wrong as "he had dinner with us and was very happy."
The following morning she found him unconscious and "I tried to revive him, but it was not possible and therefore we carried him to the hospital."
The devoted family said they do not understand why he did it.
Local media in San Juan, Argentina, reported that the youngster had updated his WhatsApp profile saying: "Playing Blue Whale game".
A few minutes later he wrote: "Good bye everyone. I love you", with a knife emoji and a sad and crying emoji.
His two brothers said on social media that he had been playing the game and shared his two last status updates.
They added: "I feel bad to know that you are in this health state and that you are not reacting, whatever you did, playing Blue Whale."
Argentine authorities organised a meeting to talk about the case, as he is said to be the first known victim in the country.
Monica Gutierrez, director of education in San Juan, said: "When we receive reports of self-harm we react individually with the victim or the family, but due to the serious situation of this case, we should work in a global way on urgent issues."
FOR KIDS: How to say no
It can sometimes be hard to stand up to your friends, so Childline offers the following tips on how to say no:
1) Say it with confidence:
Be assertive. It’s your choice and you don’t have to do something which makes you feel unsafe or uncomfortable.
2) Try not to judge them:
By respecting their choices, they should respect yours.
3) Spend time with friends who can say 'no':
It takes confidence and courage to say no to your friends. Spend time with other friends who also aren’t taking part.
4) Suggest something else to do:
If you don't feel comfortable doing what your friends are doing, suggest something else to do.
Any child worried about peer pressure or online worries can contact on 0800 1111.
The Blue Whale game started in Russia in 2015. It consists of 50 challenges that the user completes in 50 days.
Schools and cops have warned parents after the terrifying craze arrived in the UK this year.
Among the challenges, teens are asked to cut their arms in the shape of a whale, and the last one tells them to kill themselves.
Philip Budeikin, the inventor of the game, was arrested in late 2016 in Russia.
At the time of his arrest, he said: "Yes, I did… and they died happy. I gave them what they do not have in real life: comprehension, communication and warmth.";
Last week we told how a 15-year-old in Barcelona was saved from killing herself after her family found out she had signed up to the Blue Whale challenge.
FOR PARENTS: How to talk about peer pressure
1) Create the right situation:
Make sure you both have time to talk, the atmosphere is relaxed, and remember that this is a conversation, not an interrogation.
2) Listen:
Avoid solely talking at them. Listen to their concerns and their experiences.
3) Acknowledge their worries:
Dismissing their feelings will only shut down the conversation and make them reluctant to talk about what’s bothering them.
4) Help them practise ways of saying no:
Rehearsing with them ways to stand up to peer pressure and coming up with alternatives for them will build their confidence.
5) Keep the conversation going:
Let them know that they can always come to you if they have more worries, and take an interest in how they get on saying “no”.
Any adult who wants advice on how to talk to their child about peer pressure can contact the Helpline on 0808 800 5000.
An NSPCC spokesman said: “Children can find it difficult to stand up to peer pressure but they must know it’s perfectly okay to refuse to take part in crazes that make them feel unsafe or scared.
“Parents should talk with their children and emphasise that they can make their own choices and discuss ways of how to say no.
“Reassuring a child that they can still be accepted even if they don’t go along with the crowd will help stop them doing something that could hurt them or make them uncomfortable.”
If you are affected by any of the issues raised in this article, the Samaritans can be contacted on 020 7734 2800