Advertisement

Choke game almost killed schoolboy

A 15-year-old Gold Coast boy almost died from a schoolyard choking game that deprives the brain of oxygen through strangulation.

On Wednesday and without consent, Jamie Cox was wrapped in a headlock, choked to a point where he passed out before he smashed his head on the ground.

The Palm Beach Currumbin High student was rushed to hospital with a fractured skull and a blood clot on his brain.

Jamie Cox was wrapped in a headlock, choked to a point where he passed out and ended up in a coma. Photo: 7 News
Jamie Cox was wrapped in a headlock, choked to a point where he passed out and ended up in a coma. Photo: 7 News

He was placed in an induced coma and woke on Friday completely unaware of what happened to him and asked his parents what happened.

Almost in tears, Jamie's father Rodney Cox told 7 News his son was in surgery for several hours and there was a chance he wasn’t going to make it out.

“It’s a pretty reckless thing if that is a game,” he said, pleading for students to not take part in it.

"He (Jamie) is still trying to come to grips with what's happened."

Jamie's father, Rodney Cox (pictured), was almost in tears over the shocking schoolyard game. Photo: 7 News
Jamie's father, Rodney Cox (pictured), was almost in tears over the shocking schoolyard game. Photo: 7 News
The 15-year-old Palm Beach Currumbin High student suffered from a fractured skull and a blood clot on his brain. Photo: 7 News
The 15-year-old Palm Beach Currumbin High student suffered from a fractured skull and a blood clot on his brain. Photo: 7 News

On Friday, Jamie underwent further neurological tests done, which revealed that his condition is improving but there is a chance the game has caused long-term or even permanent damage.

“Things could still arise in days or weeks or months,” Mr Cox said about Jamie's condition.

Police are currently investigating the situation and the teenager responsible for the act may face criminal charges.

The choking game is known as ‘tap out’ or ‘space monkey’ and derives from the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).

The schoolyard choking game derived from the Ultimate Fighting Championship Photo: 7 News
The schoolyard choking game derived from the Ultimate Fighting Championship Photo: 7 News
The game encourages people to cut off their airway that induces a “high” before passing out. Photo: 7 News
The game encourages people to cut off their airway that induces a “high” before passing out. Photo: 7 News

Using strangulation, the game encourages people to cut off their airway that induces a “high” by depriving the brain of oxygen causing that person to pass out.

For more information about the damaging effects this dangerous schoolyard act has on students visit click here.

News break – June 10