A funeral service is planned for an Evansville teen who died playing a dangerous social media game.
In a Facebook post, the mother of 15-year-old Mason Bogard said her son died after attempting the “choking challenge.”
The game is a thrill-seeking activity where people self-strangulate or have someone else strangle them to the point of passing out.
The lack of blood and oxygen to the brain can cause a temporary high. There’s also a "rush" when blood flow is restored and people become conscious again.
But experts warn the game is dangerous and potentially deadly.
They says it may lead to chronic headaches, changes in behavior, recurrent episodes of fainting, seizures, eye damage and neurological damage.
Bogard’s family says after Mason’s death, his organs were donated to five separate people.
Visitation for the teen is set for Thursday from 2:00 until 8 p.m. at Pierre Funeral Home on W. Franklin St.
His funeral is planned for Friday at 10 a.m.