A Worcester family is grieving the unexpected loss of their 14-year-old high school student. According to the family's GoFundMe page, Harris Wolobah tragically passed away after participating in the "One Chip Challenge," a daring endeavor that requires consuming an exceptionally spicy chip crafted from some of the planet's hottest peppers.
Wolobah, who had fallen ill on a Friday while attending Doherty Memorial High School, sought assistance at the school's nurse's office. Subsequently, his parents retrieved him and transported him back to their residence.
Worcester Police reported that Wolobah passed away at his home on Rustic Drive, with the presence of Worcester police officers and paramedics at the scene. According to Worcester Police, although an official cause of death has not been determined, it seems that he consumed the extremely spicy chip earlier in the day.
Worcester school authorities, in communication, affirmed that Harris began experiencing discomfort while attending school on Friday. Subsequently, he sought assistance at the nurse's office and was eventually permitted to leave early in order to return home with his parents.
The One Chip Challenge which is a viral social media trend began in 2016 when Paqui Chips introduced a chip infused with "two of the spiciest peppers currently known." Over the past few years, it gained immense popularity on TikTok, with videos bearing its hashtag amassing a staggering two billion views. It invites people to consume a Paqui Chips product infused with incredibly spicy peppers, challenging them to endure without consuming any food or beverages afterward. They also suggest that participants use the social media hashtag "#OneChipChallenge."
The challenge experienced a resurgence in popularity during the previous autumn, leading to reports from schools across the nation about students requiring hospitalization after taking part in it. Consequently, some schools opted to prohibit the consumption of these chips.
Despite the challenge's appeal to school-going children, the challenge's official webpage cautions that the chip is primarily designed for adult consumption. This precautionary measure is due to the fact that the peppers used in chip production contain capsaicin, a compound responsible for the spiciness in hot peppers but also posing potential risks.
