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Garett Pope Jr died after cutting off airways to get a 'feeling of euphoria'
Sixth-grade student from South Carolina 'learned game from classmates'
Dad Garett Snr urged parents to tell children about dangers of the game

Published: 03:13 EST, 6 September 2016 | Updated: 07:49 EST, 6 September 2016

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A grieving father of a middle-school football player who died after playing the 'choking game' has urged parents to warn their children about its dangers.

Garett Pope Snr said his family had 'never felt pain like this before' after his son Garett Jr, 11, died after cutting off his airways to achieve a feeling of euphoria.

The sixth-grade student from India Land, South Carolina, probably learned the game from his classmates, his father explained.

Garret Jr, 11, died after cutting off his airways to achieve a feeling of euphoria, the Lancaster County coroner's officers concluded

He said: 'Please know that his senseless death was not intentional. He took this terrible "game" too far.

'My family has never felt pain like this before, and we don't anyone else to go through what we are going through.

'Please talk about this with your kids, and do everything you can to prevent a similar tragedy.'

Garett Snr called his son 'funny, smart' and said he had just started playing football before his death last week and wanted to go to Clemson University eventually.

The Lancaster County coroner's officers reached a verdict of accidental death, which had happened while Garret Jr was restricting his airways as part of the 'game'.

Despite having been blamed for numerous deaths over the years, young people continue to upload videos of themselves being choked on social media.

But Garett Snr said he could not find any signs that his oldest son had researched the game online.

Garett Snr. called his son (right) 'funny, smart' and said he had just started playing football before his death and wanted to go to Clemson University

He added: 'We do not know where Garett learned this, but the logical source would be from other kids in school, or in our neighborhood.

'I've spoken to the principle about making sure that teachers are aware of this 'game'.

'He was so young and impressionable, he didn't know what he was doing, and made a terrible mistake. We miss him.'

In his memory, they have set up a GoFundMe page to raise money for the reading programs at Indian Land Elementary and Middle schools.