The challenge, which is causing casualties across the globe at an alarming rate, has resulted in several youngsters requiring hospital treatment in Portugal in recent times. It has yet to be linked to any fatalities here.
However, beyond Portugal, a number of deaths involving children and teens are believed to be related to the ‘game’.
It sets a series of challenges often involving self-harm, and incites players to commit suicide to ‘win’ the game, under the duress of threats that failure to comply with instructions will see the players’ families come to harm.
Thirteen-year-old, Conor Matos Wilmot, who lived in Ireland and is the son of a Portuguese emigrant, was found dead in a field near his family home in County Clare.
His body was reportedly discovered by his dad, Gregory, who went looking for the boy after he failed to arrive home last Thursday evening.
According to national newspaper. Correio da Manhã, other media reports suggest the young teen may have taken his own life after being bullied at school, although his father has refuted that theory.
Gregory Wilmot is said to believe his son died “due to contacts made on the internet.”
Born in Angola, the boy’s mother Irina Matos, has Portuguese nationality and was a former professional athlete.
Police have seized the teen’s laptop and mobile phone and are investigating.
In Portugal, the Public Prosecutor’s office is investigating 16 cases relating to the online craze, the majority involving teenagers.
At the start of this month, Portugal’s PSP police launched a campaign which aimed to raise awareness about the Blue Whale challenge.
It created posters to be distributed via social media and in schools, mainly in Lisbon, aimed at impressionable youngsters, in which it urges them not to ‘be duped by the whale’ or ‘go down’ with it.
In a statement, the police force said “considering recent events related to the game (…) we’re launching the campaign to contribute to the social awareness of children and young people as well as parents about the dangers of [Blue Whale], and to disseminate forms of prevention.”