A third-year pupil at a secondary school in Nieuwegein has died after taking part in a “choking” game, the Anna van Rijn College has told parents in a letter.

No one else was involved in the incident, and police are not investigating, according to local broadcaster RTV Utrecht. News of the death was reported to the school by the boy’s parents, but it is unclear where or when the incident occurred, RTV Utrecht said.

The parents requested that the school make the cause of death public to warn other parents of the dangers associated with “such challenges.”

The “choking challenge” involves attempting to strangle yourself or have someone else do it to you until you almost faint.

In 2017, a 16-year-old boy from Arkel died in the same way, as did a 15-year-old boy from The Hague the following year.

Experts warn that any activity that deprives the brain of oxygen has the potential to cause moderate to severe brain cell death leading to permanent health problems.