A 14-month-old boy who was placed in an induced coma after inhaling cake decorating powder is showing signs of recovery. Dustin, from the Gold Coast in Australia, had been fighting for his life after breathing in gold lustre dust, which turned to paste inside his lungs.
His mother, professional baker Katie Robinson, was making a Bluey-themed birthday cake when her son grabbed a container of the powder. Within seconds, he inhaled and ingested the dust, leading to severe breathing difficulties. He was rushed to Queensland Children's Hospital in Brisbane for emergency surgery.
Doctors flushed out his lungs with saline solution and discovered the dust contained copper, which can cause respiratory distress and long-term lung damage. Dustin was placed in a coma but has since had his breathing tube removed and is now on high-flow oxygen via nasal prongs.
Katie shared an update on a GoFundMe page, which has raised over £20,000 from more than 1,000 donors. She said: 'Dusty has had his breathing tube taken out and now has high flow oxygen through nasal prongs. His meds have decreased but he is still in a drowsy state. The doctors are happy with his progression, however still unsure about lasting effects on the lungs.'
The incident has shocked the family, who had no idea the dust could be so dangerous. Katie warned: 'It's just not a product that you would expect to be anywhere near anything that has to do with food.' Doctors described the case as extremely rare.
