Gateshead family raise awareness after helium balloon tragedy
5 year old Karlton Noah Donaghey lost his life after playing with a large dinosaur balloon.
Last updated 13th Jul 2022
The family of a young Gateshead boy who passed away are urging people to learn the dangers of helium balloons.
5 year old Karlton Noah Donaghey was found on the floor of his home with a large balloon over his head and neck.
His big sister Kaitlin, told us the family were outside in the garden moments before it happened:
"He just got out of the pool, walked in, went to go to the toilet. Then my mam straight away said she was going in after him. That was within a minute. This is the outcome of being left alone for one minute."
"I heard horrific screaming, I've never heard anything like it."
"I frantically ran in, and took him from my mam's arms. He was gone. He was floppy and his eyes were wide open. At that minute, he was so pale. I knew something terrible had happened."
"We're unsure if he put it over his head to pretend to be a dinosaur and surprise his neices... but regardless of what he was trying to do, the helium instantly affected him which caused him to suffer a cardiac arrest"
He was given CPR and airlifted to the RVI in Newcastle, where he spent six days in intensive care. Doctors tragically could do no more and his ventilator was switched off.
Before the ambulance came, their neighbour Amy was able to give first aid to Karlton.
"If we didn't have Amy, we wouldn't have had them last 6 days to treasure with him."
"The 6 days he was on full life support, he had a ventilator breathing for him, but his heart was beating on it's own. On one of the days, he started taking his own breaths... but he suffered so many seizures that it stopped that again"
Kaitlin now wants to make it compulsory for people to learn first aid:
"I'm trained in first aid for work, but I couldn't get myself together to do it correctly. I relied on the one and only neighbour that could do it- when there was so many people that gathered around from the street. Everyone should learn it in schools."
The cause of Karlton's death is believed by his family to be the result of inhaling helium though this is yet to be determined by a coroner.
"My mam and Karl (Karlton's father) would never, ever have bought that balloon if they knew that would happen. I swore to Karlton that I will make sure this never happens to another child or adult ever again."
Kaitlin says she now wants to make it her goal to spread awareness around the dangers.
"The paramedic came, and he said it's unbelievable how many adults he's seen die because of helium... as well as children...I want parents, grandparents, childminders, schools- everyone to be aware. If I could get them banned, I would""
"We've all done it, we've all sucked helium for a silly voice... . I've never understood the consequences it can bring, until now."
"That two second party trick for a silly little voice, is not worth the rest of your life"
Karlton's family have described him as a 'total character' who was funny, mischievous and cheeky. A Go Fund Me page has been made by a family friend to help support Karlton's funeral and memorial.