12yo’s love for a hit Netflix series turns deadly as his cousin makes devastating discovering at his home

A 12-year-old boy from West Yorkshire died in June after trying to copy a scene from the Netflix show Squid Game as a prank. Sebastian Cizman‘s cousin found him lying still on the stairs at his family’s home in Glasshoughton with a sheet wrapped around his neck. Paramedics tried to save him, but he was declared dead at a nearby hospital.

According to the NY Post, Sebastian was a big fan of the South Korean show, where people play deadly versions of children’s games to win money. Police checked his phone and found a picture of a character from the series who was shown hanged. An inquest this week heard that Sebastian was known as a prankster who often pretended to be knocked out while playing with friends.

On the day he died, Sebastian shared an image of the same character in a WhatsApp group chat. His family told investigators they had warned him about dangerous online challenges that have killed many young people around the world. Sebastian told them he would not try these challenges.

The tragic incident appears to be an accident gone wrong

Police looked through Sebastian’s internet history but found no proof he had been looking for dangerous challenges on TikTok. However, they did find that he had searched for a YouTube video about “surviving choking alone,” which was a first-aid tutorial. 

Similar to recent cases where authorities discovered unexpected dangers, investigators had to piece together what happened.

Sebastian’s parents described their son as a popular and happy child who did not have any mental health problems. In a statement, they said they believe their son’s death was a terrible accident. The family is devastated by the loss.

The inquest revealed that Sebastian enjoyed the Netflix series and may have been trying to recreate what he saw on screen. His parents never thought he would actually attempt something dangerous despite their warnings about online trends. Authorities emphasize the importance of supervision, much like how safety systems prevent accidents in other situations.

Squid Game became a worldwide hit on Netflix, showing contestants competing in deadly games based on playground activities. The show’s dark themes and violent content have raised concerns among parents about its influence on young viewers.

Sebastian’s death serves as a reminder of the dangers of copying what children see in shows and online videos. His family hopes other parents will talk to their kids about the difference between fiction and reality.