Helium balloons may come with warning as boy, 5, died after putting one on head

01 February 2024 , 12:35

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Karlton lost his life after trying to climb into a large dinosaur balloon (Image: Chonicle Live)

Helium-filled balloons could come with a warning in the future following the tragic death of a five-year-old boy who put one on his head.

Karlton Donaghey was given the balloon at a fairground and tried to "pretend he was a dinosaur and surprise his family" while briefly left alone in his home, an inquest heard. He was found by his mother 10 minutes later and rushed to hospital but died six days later. Newcastle assistant coroner James Thompson wrote to the government in October demanding action to prevent future deaths in similar circumstances.

He raised particular concerns about the lack of restrictions surrounding the purchase of helium balloons "particularly at locations of places of entertainment for children", the lack of awareness of the dangers they might pose and the lack of warnings on the balloons themselves of the potential risks. Now, the Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) has responded to his concerns and raised the possibility of such balloons having to come with a warning about the dangers of helium inhalation. In a letter from the chief executive, the OPSS says it takes the safety of consumers, in particular children, "very seriously."

Karlton Noah Donaghey, five, from Dunston (Chonicle Live)

Karlton with his mum Lisa and his dad Karl. (Chonicle Live)

The inquest in September heard that Karlton had been given the large, green balloon as a treat during a trip to The Hoppings funfair in Newcastle-upon-Tyne with mum Lisa and his dad Karl days before his death in June 2022. The hearing was told he had been playing in the garden of his family's home in Dunston, Tyne and Wear, before going inside, when his mother found him unconscious in the living room 10 minutes later. His mother Lisa said she believes her son had been trying to climb into the dinosaur balloon to wear as a costume to surprise his family. At the inquest, Mr Thompson described the tragedy as "every parent's nightmare."

The letter said: "Where there are any inherent risks or hazards associated with a toy, the Regulations require that warnings be provided on the product itself, and/or on the packaging or instructions. We believe that helium inhalation is an inherent risk to children and is reasonably foreseeable. Those responsible for the safety of helium-filled balloons placed on the market in the UK therefore have an obligation to provide information and warnings about any helium inhalation risks of their products. This includes products supplied at fairgrounds whether as prizes or purchases. Where this is not the case, those manufacturing or supplying such products may be in breach of the law."

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However, the OPSS said the current regulations do not require balloons like the one involved in Karlton's death to come with any warning. It said: "The responsibility of safety rests with those who place toys on the market. OPSS has identified that [the law] does not require warnings to be provided on helium-filled balloons about the risks of helium inhalation. OPSS will write to the British Standards Institution, the UK's national standards-setting body, to recommend it consider updating the standard to reflect the risks of helium inhalation to children. OPSS has powers to restrict designated standards and we are considering placing a restriction...given the current absence of helium inhalation warnings."

The OPSS said it would be writing to trade organisations such as the British Toy and Hobby Association and the British Retail Consortium as well as Trading Standards authorities 'advising them of the risks from these products'. The letter concludes: "While nothing we can do can address the loss that Karlton's family have experienced, I hope that this demonstrates the importance we place on protecting consumers, including children, from unsafe products. The actions we are taking are intended to help prevent the circumstances that tragically led to Karlton Donaghey's death from happening in the future."

Rachel Hagan