Police have confirmed that a nine year old boy died at his home in Maloney Gardens on Monday evening, after apparently attempting the viral ‘blackout’ challenge on Tik-Tok. 

Details are still sketchy, but initial reports indicate that the child was found with a belt around his neck. 

The “blackout challenge” — also referred to as “scarfing” or “the choking game,” and in which restricted oxygen to the brain results in a high — has circulated on various social media platforms worldwide.

The challenge faced major criticism in Italy recently, after a 10 year old girl suffered brain damage and subsequently died after attempting it.