PARENTS have been urged to warn their children about the dangers of a life-threatening new craze "before someone dies due to suffocation".
The reckless activity involves youngsters having their heads wrapped in cling film while attempting to hold their breath for as long as possible.
The urgent warning by Gardaí comes after a group of teens were spotted behind a local supermarket in Edenderry, Co. Offaly taking part in the craze.
Taking to Facebook, the 'Republic of Edenderry' community page posted an image of three hooded teens wrapping themselves in cling film.
They wrote: “A concerned page follower has contacted this page with a warning for teenagers and their parents.
“While in Edenderry today .. she saw 4 boys behind Aldi, no more than 14, and they were wrapping cling film around each other’s faces and roaring laughing.
“This could have fatal consequences. She asked this page to please post this to make parents aware of what their kids think nowadays is fun.”
Gardaí have told parents to speak to their children and warn them off taking part in the craze.
Crime Prevention Officer, Sgt Graham Kavanagh, said: "Parents need to inform their children about such activities before one of them gets seriously injured or dies due to suffocation."
