Bonny MacAlister

Last year, something really bad happened to me, and it still haunts me sometimes. I’m 15 years old and from Glasgow, Scotland. It all started when I got into doing TikTok challenges with my friends. We were always looking for the next big thing to get more likes and followers. That’s how we ended up trying the Blackout Challenge. The idea was to strangle yourself until you fainted and then post the video online. It sounds crazy now, but at the time, it seemed like just another harmless trend.

One evening, I was in my room, lying on my bed, and I decided to give it a go. I wrapped a belt around my neck and tightened it. The next thing I remember is waking up to my mum’s terrified face. She had found me passed out and immediately called an ambulance. Luckily, I came around quickly, and we were able to send the paramedics back, but I felt horrible and disoriented for a while after that.

When I explained to my mum what had happened, she was in shock. I was so ashamed of what I had done. But instead of getting angry, my mum was incredibly understanding. She didn't judge me. Instead, she focused on making sure I was okay and helping me understand just how dangerous that challenge was. We talked a lot, and with my agreement, she decided to take action.

My mum contacted my school and other parents, sharing our story to raise awareness. She even spoke to the media a few times to spread the word about the dangers of these online challenges. I was embarrassed at first, but I knew she was doing the right thing. Kids and teens have died from doing this, and if our story could prevent even one more tragedy, it was worth it.

Now, there’s a lot of information about these challenges in our schools, and I’m really grateful for that. I’m 15 now, and looking back, I’m so glad my mum was there for me. She didn't just save me that day; she might have saved others too. It could never happen to me again, and I hope our story helps keep other kids safe too.