Family suspects teen's death was due to complications from spicy chip challenge

Worcester Public Schools announced a 14-year-old student died Friday.

The Worcester School community is mourning the death of one of their high school sophomores, Harris Wolobah.

News of the death comes after officials said he was feeling sick and sent home.

The teen's mother said hours before he died, he told her he ate an extremely spicy tortilla chip. She said the family believes this was because of a viral chip challenge.

Wolobah, who has an autism diagnosis, went to school where his mother said he ate a very spicy tortilla chip that landed him in the school nurse's office.

Worcester Public Schools confirmed that Harris was checked by the nurse and called the parents to the school that day before sending him home.

His mother wouldn't go on camera, but said the teen had felt fine that evening at home when he suddenly passed out. Harris died hours later at the hospital.

Superintendent Dr. Rachel Monárrez offered condolences to the family and counseling services to those impacted by Harris' death.

"As a mother and educator, I cannot imagine how hard this is on his family, friends and teachers," Dr. Monárrez said. "My heart goes out to all who knew and loved him."

An autopsy report is still pending, but the Wolobah family is attributing his death to complications stemming from doing the 'one chip challenge,' described as 'a single tortilla chip packing some extreme heat,' wrapped in a coffin-shapped box.

Paqui, the company behind the Carolina Reaper and naga viper pepper seasoned chip, daring those who eat one, to resist the urge to eat or drink anything to relieve the burn.

The chip company does warn against children consuming their chips and those sensitive to the ingredients, including capsaicin, which is found in peppers.

The National Capital Poison Center, a non-profit, also warns capsaicin - used in some pepper sprays and bear repellents - could cause serious health problems in some people.

Some side effects include burning mouth sensation, stomach pain, chest pain, heart palpitations, vomiting and could even cause a heart attack.

Officials have not confirmed the cause of death of the teen or what role the chip or the challenge may have played, if at all.