A one-year-old boy has been placed in an induced coma following a freak accident that occurred while his mother was baking a Bluey-themed birthday cake. Little Dusty was rushed to hospital after inhaling a decorative gold dust powder, an ordeal his family has described as 'horrific'.
The Incident
The Gold Coast family's nightmare unfolded in seconds on Friday, May 1. According to a GoFundMe page set up by family friend Rochelle, Dusty got hold of the powder, commonly used in cake decorating, opened the pot with his teeth, and inhaled it, triggering a medical emergency.
'When the dust is mixed with water it turns to paste - so it immediately blocked Dusty's lungs,' Rochelle wrote. 'He went unresponsive and she called 000.'
Dusty was rushed to Queensland Children's Hospital in Brisbane, where doctors acted quickly to save the toddler's life. He has since been placed in an induced coma.
Medical Condition
Doctors diagnosed Dusty with chemical pneumonitis, a serious condition caused by inhaling toxic substances. 'There's some fluid in there still, so they've flushed what they can and sent a sample off to the lab to make sure there's no infection,' Rochelle said. 'They're unsure of how long it will take for the lungs to get rid of the copper, or what that looks like for him.'
Dusty has undergone multiple procedures, and his breathing tube has been moved from his mouth to his nose. He remains under close observation in intensive care. An update noted he is 'on 50 per cent oxygen and 50 per cent breathing on his own', but scans showed his lungs appeared 'worse than the day before'.
Safety Concerns
The product involved is a decorative edible dust, often used to create shimmer on cakes. However, the incident has raised urgent questions about labelling and safety. According to the family's friend, the powder is 'for decorative purposes only' and 'not edible and toxic', adding it 'doesn't… really [seem to be] labelled that well'.
Rochelle claimed the supplier had been contacted and the product has since been removed from sale. 'She's contacted all of her stockists to remove the product,' she said.
Family Strain
The ordeal has placed enormous strain on Dusty's parents, Katie and Chris, who are both self-employed. 'Katie and Chris are both sole traders and don't know when they'll be able to work again, as Dusty's condition is so rare they don't know how long he'll be in hospital for,' Rochelle said.
The family has been staying at Ronald McDonald House in Brisbane, but their accommodation is only temporary. 'Ronald McDonald House only has accommodation for them until tomorrow, so now they need to pay for accommodation while also trying to keep up with their mortgage and normal life expenses,' Rochelle explained.
A fundraiser has attracted an outpouring of support, with friends and strangers rallying to help the family stay by Dusty's side. For now, loved ones are taking things 'day by day' as doctors continue to monitor his condition, with no clear timeline for recovery.
