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A Massachusetts teenager died hours after participating in the viral 'One Chip Challenge,' which his family suspects contributed to his death.
Harris Wolobah, 14, a sophomore at Doherty Memorial High School in Worcester, developed a stomachache shortly after eating the extremely spicy Paqui Carolina Reaper and Naga Viper Pepper tortilla chip last Friday (September 1), his mother, Lois, told NBC Boston. An autopsy on Wolobah's official cause of death is pending and officials didn't provide additional details regarding the incident.
Worcester Public Schools Superintendent Rachel Monárrez called Wolobah "a rising star" in a statement addressing his death on Sunday (September 3).
Lois Wolobah said she was called to the school by a nurse who said Harris claimed he was given a chip by a classmate that left him with a stomachache. Harris reportedly felt better after they initially returned home, but passed out at around 4:30 p.m., at which point he was set to attend basketball tryouts.
The 14-year-old was later pronounced dead at a local hospital. A Worcester Public Schools spokesman confirmed that Harris was sent to the nurse's office and went home with family members after his parents were called on the same day of his death, which led to questions asking why he wasn't sent directly to the hospital, as well as whether the school district planned additional action on the chips.
The One Chip Challenge has gained popularity on social media and raised concerns in recent years. In 2022, paramedics responded to a Georgia high school after a student attempted to participate in the viral challenge.
“Each year, the team here at Paqui raises the bar and develops an intensely thrilling challenge that pushes the fearless to their limit,” said Paqui senior brand manager Brandon Kieffer via KIRO 7 in 2022. “Fans be warned, this year’s chip isn’t for the faint of heart, and there’s no cheating the test. Only the bravest will be able to prove they’ve faced the Reaper when they show off their blue tongue after completing the challenge.”