Head teacher issues warning to pupils over deadly online craze

A school has issued a warning to parents about the dangers of a social-networking craze which has been linked to the deaths of five people.

‘NekNominate’ involves participants filming themselves consuming drinks and posting the videos online whilst daring friends to match or outdo the stunts with increasingly large amounts of alcohol or in dangerous situations.

Bradley Eames, 20, from Nottingham, died four days after filming himself drinking two pints of gin in a NekNominate challenge.

And, another 20-year-old, Isaac Richardson, from London, died earlier this month after drinking a cocktail of wine, whisky, vodka and larger as part of a similar dare.

Three other deaths in the UK have so far been linked to the online game.

This week, in a letter to parents, Dr Carin Taylor, head teacher of Soham Village College, warned against the dangers of ‘NekNominate’.

She said: “Neknominate involves people filming themselves drinking something horrible, usually a cocktail of alcohol and an assortment of unpleasant ingredients. “They then post the video online, often through Facebook, and nominate two friends to outdo them within a given period of time. We have been made aware that some of our students have been talking about this reckless craze which has already claimed the lives of young people nationally.

“We would ask all parents to be vigilant so that we can ensure that our young people remain safe.”