A devastated mother has called for helium balloons to be banned after her son died following a horror incident involving one on his birthday.
Eight-year-old Joshua Dunbar from Birkenhead, Merseyside, was rushed to hospital after he was found unresponsive on his bedroom floor with a number 8-shaped balloon over his head.
An inquest into his tragic death revealed post mortem results found Joshuas cause of death was consistent with asphyxia involving a helium balloon, also known as suffocation.
Although coroner Andre Rebello told the hearing that helium is not poisonous, he added: What has happened is helium has displaced the available air to breathe, and that is what has caused Joshuas death.
The young boys heartbroken mother Carly has now publicly called for helium balloons to be banned, claiming they destroy lives and take lives, literally within a matter of minutes.
In a Facebook post, Carly wrote: There is no cure for a broken heart or the pain of losing your child. Please trust me when I say do not buy your children helium balloons.
Every day since, Ive hated myself for buying that balloon that took our boy and I would never want another child or family to go through this hell! Stick with air filled balloons.
Paying touching tribute to her son at his inquest following his death in April 2024, Carly said: Joshua was one of a kind with the brightest blue eyes and the cheekiest smile; he loved to give all his friends hugs.
Eight-year-old Joshua Dunbar from Birkenhead, Merseyside, was rushed to hospital after he was found unresponsive on his bedroom floor with a number 8-shaped balloon over his head
Before we lost our son I was very outgoing, very sociable, loads of fun, a good time to be around. I loved spending time with my friends, I loved spending time with my family.
I loved saying to the kids “lets go”. Going on adventures, going to watch the sunset, going for a run down the beach. Putting the music on, dancing and singing with that.
Thats how we were. We were a big happy family of six, and I always said we might not have it all together, but together we have it all, and thats what we went by.
The day that our son was taken from us, a big part of me went with. My heart was just absolutely broken into pieces, never ever to be mended. Now Im like a totally different person. I dont know myself any more.
The devastated mother said she suffered mental health problems and PTSD following her sons death, saying it was traumatic and something she can never erase from her mind.
You close your eyes, its all you see, its all you hear. You hear the screams, the shouts, the sirens. You hear the doctors words, saying to you that theyre really sorry. It was time for him, she said.
Carly recalled holding Joshuas hand along with her husband and heartbreakingly telling him: Son if your angel wings are there and youre ready to take them, then take them. Mummy and Daddy and here with you and were with you all the way. If youre ready to go son, you just go in peace.
She said within minutes Joshua was gone, as if he had been waiting for his parents permission.
A family memorial was set up for the youngster who died on his eighth birthday last year
These are visions I will never be able to erase or forget. These are things Ive got to live with as well as learning to live without my son, as well as trying to be strong for my other kids. Its just absolutely torture, Carly said.
Hand on my heart, I would never want another child to lose their life, another family to feel what we feel every single day.
Its just torture and it doesnt get easier, it really doesnt. If one, two, three people stop and think and take onboard what Im saying and dont buy a helium balloon, thats one child death being prevented.
Thats what its all about, preventing it happening to another child and the only way to do that is to stop buying helium balloons. Just buy the air ones – they look just as nice.
