Police in Sydney are investigating the death of a 16-year-old girl after she reportedly lost consciousness during sex. Emergency crews were called to a house in Elanora Heights, in Sydney’s Northern Beaches, at about 5:45pm on Sunday.
The girl was found unconscious inside the property. Paramedics treated her at the scene before she was flown to Royal North Shore Hospital. She was in a critical condition. She later died on Tuesday night.
Police have not released details about the exact cause of her death. They have also not confirmed what injuries she suffered. However, police sources told Australian media that the teenager was believed to have been strangled during sex before losing consciousness.
The case has raised fresh concerns about the growing use of sexual strangulation among young people. Health experts warn that pressure on the neck can have serious consequences. These can include headaches, memory problems, and brain injuries. In rare cases, it can also lead to death.
Consent campaigner Chanel Contos said the teenager’s death was likely preventable. Contos founded Teach Us Consent in 2021. The organisation works to improve education about sexual consent among young people.
She also criticised the influence of pornography. She said violent acts such as choking and strangling are often shown as normal or pleasurable. According to Contos, many young people may not understand the serious risks involved. She said a person can suffer a serious brain injury even when there are no obvious marks on the body.
She also argued that there is no completely safe way to strangle someone during sex. Research has highlighted how common the practice has become in Australia. A 2024 study involving researchers from the University of Melbourne and the University of Queensland surveyed about 4,700 Australians aged 18 to 35.
The research found that 57% said they had experienced strangulation during sex at least once. Around one in three people who had experienced it said their first experience occurred between the ages of 19 and 21. The teenager’s death is now being investigated by NSW Police. Further details about the circumstances surrounding her death have not yet been released.
