In a profoundly moving segment on Tuesday's Good Morning Britain, presenter Susanna Reid offered heartfelt comfort to a family devastated by the loss of their daughter to so-called laughing gas.
A Tragic Warning from the Ambulance
The ITV programme, co-hosted by Richard Madeley, welcomed the mother and sister of 20-year-old Amy Leonard, who died in September this year. The young woman suffered a fatal cardiac arrest after regularly inhaling nitrous oxide.
Richard Madeley set the scene, noting that despite being made illegal in England and Wales two years ago, the party drug "is still out there, and it's still taking lives." The discussion then turned to Amy's own harrowing social media post, shared just two days before her death.
"She posted on social media just two days before her death and gave a harrowing warning to others about the dangers," Susanna Reid told viewers. Amy's post read: "It's easy to think it's just a quick buzz, but the risks are very real. I've not been able to walk for three weeks.... my nervous system is failing... It's made me so depressed. So, put your balloons down because you'll only end up like me."
Family's Devastating Shock and Campaign for Change
Amy's mother, Katrina, and sister, Caitlin, joined the presenters in the studio to emphasise the critical need for greater awareness. Katrina revealed she had "no idea" her daughter was using the substance, making her death a complete and "devastating shock."
Caitlin explained the common misconceptions surrounding the drug: "I don't think when people are doing it, they know the very serious side effects of it. Just the common ones. It can be the ones that you just brush to the side, like feeling sick, dizziness, but there are deeper side effects. I think people just see it as a balloon, and it's not that dangerous, when actually it is."
The family is now calling for a complete ban of nitrous oxide, arguing that current legislation is not enough to prevent further tragedies.
Susanna Reid's Emotional Comfort to a Grieving Mother
As the segment drew to a close, Susanna Reid directly addressed the heartbroken mother. Her words were filled with empathy, particularly regarding the timing of Amy's social media warning.
"Katrina, it is heartbreaking for you. As I understand it, that social media post that your daughter posted was while she was in the ambulance. By that point, it was probably too late for her, but she wanted to say to others, 'Please don't do this,'" Susanna said.
She continued, offering solace through the potential for Amy's legacy to save others: "Thank you both for coming in, I'm so sorry about what happened. Your lovely daughter died just a couple of months ago, Katrina... Christmas is coming and it's desperate, but if you can have any effect on other people, young people and stopping them doing this, it will be the most marvellous legacy for your daughter."
The episode of Good Morning Britain aired on Tuesday 16 December 2025 on ITV1 and ITVX. The show also featured Ranvir Singh and weather presenter Alex Beresford.
