A six-year-old Illinois boy died after inhaling helium from a Mylar balloon, according to family and officials.
According to the Wabash County Coroner’s Office, Gunner Hyatt most likely suffocated to death on May 29 after inhaling inert gas inside his Mt. Carmel home.
“Preliminary findings indicate that the cause of death is consistent with suffocation due to a Mylar-helium filled balloon,” coroner Shaun Keepes said on Wednesday. He also warned the public about the “unrecognized” dangers of the large, child-sized balloons.
“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.”
Additional testing and toxicology are needed to determine the young boy’s official cause of death, which local police are also looking into.
Gunner, who had just finished Kindergarten at Mount Carmel Elementary School, was remembered as a cheerful and adventurous child whose “laughter brightened every room,” according to his obit.
“He was the happiest outdoors-whether he was playing baseball, fishing by the water or exploring the woods hunting,” according to his tombstone.
“He was a huge fan of monster trucks and never missed an opportunity to go mud riding with his family.” Gunner lived life with a fearless spirit, a playful heart, and an unforgettable smile.
The boy, born on May 21, was the youngest of three children.
Bethany Hyatt, the youngster’s grieving aunt, described him as “an absolute joy and such a thrilling child to be around.”
“No one who knew him would deny that he was an incredible child,” Hyatt wrote on Facebook on May 30.
“There are no words to describe how deeply we feel his absence.” He will always be in our thoughts, and we will never fully recover from this. He made a difference in so many people’s lives during his brief stay with us.”
The boy’s funeral will be held Friday afternoon at Keepes Funeral Home’s chapel.
In a similar case in 2023, a young Tennessee girl was killed by her own birthday balloons just days after celebrating her seventh birthday.
The child’s mother warned other parents about the dangers of foil helium balloons after her daughter, Alexandra Hope Kelly, was suffocated by a large number “7” Mylar balloon.
