After inhaling helium from a Mylar balloon, an Illinois youngster who had just celebrated his sixth birthday tragically passed away, according to officials and his family.
The Wabash County Coroner’s Office reacted to the horrific scene and concluded that Gunner Hyatt most likely smothered to death after he inhaled the inert gas inside his Mount Carmel house on May 29.
Coroner Shaun Keepes warned the public about the “unrecognized” risks of the enormous, kid-sized balloons, saying on Wednesday that preliminary findings suggest the cause of death was asphyxia from a Mylar-helium-filled balloon.
“While often seen as harmless decorations, these balloons can pose serious risks – particularly to young children – including the rare but devastating possibility of suffocation and/or helium toxicity.”
The exact cause of death for the young kid is still unknown due to more tests and toxicology, which the local police are also looking into.
According to his obituary, Gunner, who had recently finished Kindergarten at Mount Carmel Elementary School, was a happy and daring youngster whose “laugher brightened every room.”
“He was the happiest outdoors-whether he was playing baseball, fishing by the water or exploring the woods hunting,” according to his obituary.
“He had a huge love for monster trucks and never missed a chance to go mud riding with his family. Gunner lived life with a fearless spirit, a playful heart, and a smile that will never be forgotten.”
The boy was the youngest of three children and was born on May 21.
Bethany Hyatt, the toddler’s distraught aunt, called him “an absolute joy and such a thrilling child to be around.”
“There’s not a person that knew him that would say he wasn’t an incredible child,” Hyatt stated on Facebook May 30.
“There are no words to express how deeply we are feeling his absence. He will forever be in our thoughts and we will never truly recover from this. He touched so many lives in his short time here with us.”
Read Also: Two Arrested in Ventura County for Alleged Drug Delivery Operation Targeting Kids
The Chapel of Keepes Funeral Home will host the boy’s funeral on Friday afternoon.
Days after celebrating her seventh birthday, a young Tennessee girl was killed by her own birthday balloons in a similar instance in 2023.
After her daughter Alexandra Hope Kelly was suffocated by a giant number “7” Mylar balloon, the child’s mother cautioned other parents about the possible risks associated with foil helium balloons.
