Coroner issues warning after 20-year-old mum dies inhaling helium

A coroner wants change after a young mother of two died at her child’s birthday party from a common trick many wrongly believe is “harmless”.

There are calls for warnings on helium canisters to be improved after a young mum died instantly after inhaling the commonly used gas at her child’s birthday.

New Zealand woman, Faith Waterman Batistich, died after she breathed in the colourless, odourless element directly from the canister in September 2022.

When inhaled, helium displaces oxygen in the lungs and causes low blood oxygen, known as hypoxia, which can cause damage and ultimately death.

An inquest into the 20-year-old’s death has now found Ms Batistich was “unaware of the inherent dangers of inhaling helium”, and called for warning labels on canisters to be made clearer.

Ms Batistich’s twin sister Eden Waterman described the moment the young mum – who was celebrating her daughter’s second birthday on the day she died – knew she had made a grave mistake.

Faith Waterman Batistich, (L) was 20 when she died after inhaling helium directly from the canister. Picture: Facebook

The party had been inhaling helium from the balloons to make their voices high when someone suggested doing it directly from the helium canister.

Eden claimed “it took some convincing” before Faith stepped up, alleging ing that just as she inhaled, another person turned up the flow on the canister.

“It went too fast and kind of shot her in the back of the neck,” Eden told the

NZ Herald.

“Her last words were literally, ‘Oh s**t’ and she dropped.

“I was just, like, in shock. I kind of just froze and it was like, ‘what the f**k, what am I seeing? Like, is this for real?’ I thought she was putting it on at the start.”

Family gave Ms Batistich CPR, who lived in a small town located 18 kilometres southeast of Tauranga in the Western Bay of Plenty, for 45 minuted before ambos arrived.

But Eden said her sister “went blue instantly”, adding “nothing” anyone did – including emergency services – “got her back”.

The mum-of-two’s last words were ‘oh s**t’ before she died almost instantly. Picture: Facebook

The report on her cause of death suggested she died quickly as a result of asphyxiation, the NZ Herald reported.

Coroner Louella Dunn said it was apparent Faith was “unaware of the inherent dangers of inhaling helium. Her death was unexpected and tragic”.

“It can be considered funny and entertaining in a party environment to inhale helium which produces a high-pitched noise similar to that of a chipmunk,” she said.

“This is a known party pleaser. Many people are, however, unaware of the potential threats of inhaling helium in such a situation. What may seem like harmless fun is potentially life-threatening.

She noted it was clear there was a “mistaken belief” in the community about the dangers of inhaling helium, and made several recommendations to prevent future tragedies.

“These threats are heightened when inhaling pressurised helium from a cylinder or canister given the amount that can enter the body due to the pressurised gas,” Coroner Dunn said.

Photos of the canister in question, manufactured by Australian company Alpen, were provided to the coroner and showed a warning sign on the side of the blue bottle.

An inquest into her death has resulted in the coroner calling for improved warnings on helium bottles. Picture: Facebook

Under the heading “danger – contents under pressure” was a list of instructions that included, “do not place nozzle in mouth or nose for any reason. Doing so can damage lungs and other body parts which can result in serious personal injury or death”.

It also advised that the cylinder contained compressed helium under pressure, stating: “Do not inhale helium. Use only in well-ventilated area. Never use in closed spaces. Helium reduces oxygen available for breathing. Inhaling helium can result in serious personal injury or death.”

However, the coroner concluded the warning was “in very small print” and added the threat to life was at the end.

“I am concerned that the warning sign advising of the dangers of helium inhalation is not given sufficient prominence on the canister,” she said

“Many members of the public would be unaware of the potential risk of inhaling helium from a pressurised canister.

“I recommend that the warning should be in bold print at the top of the canister stating: ‘Do not inhale – risk of serious personal injury or death’.”

Originally published as Coroner issues warning after 20-year-old mum dies inhaling helium