Sister's Heartbreaking Warning After Helium Balloon Kills Five-Year-Old Brother
In an exclusive interview, Kaitlin Donaghey has opened up about the final moments of her five-year-old brother Karlton Noah Donaghey, who died after inhaling helium from a balloon, urging parents to heed her urgent warning about the deadly dangers of what many consider harmless party decorations.
The Day That Changed Everything
On June 23, 2022, what began as an idyllic summer day in Gateshead turned into what a coroner would later describe as "every parent's nightmare." Five-year-old Karlton was playing in the sunshine with his family, enjoying a pop-up swimming pool while his mother Lisa and sister Kaitlin fed Kaitlin's eight-month-old twin daughters.
"He was the baby of the family," Kaitlin recalled. "He asked for a cuddle, but we were feeding the twins. My mam said, 'Just let us feed one of the girls, then I'll give you some you time.'" Instead, Karlton headed to the toilet, something the family initially thought nothing of since he was known for his meticulous hygiene habits.
The Tragic Discovery
When minutes passed and Karlton didn't return, his mother went to check on him. What she discovered would haunt the family forever. "I just heard the most awful screeching noises I've never experienced before," Kaitlin remembered. "I automatically assumed someone had my mam at knifepoint."
When Kaitlin rushed inside, she found her mother holding Karlton's lifeless body. The five-year-old had climbed to reach a helium balloon that had been floating in the air, a treat he'd received at a fair. His mother had previously cut the string to prevent strangulation hazards, unaware of the helium's deadly potential.
Desperate Attempts to Save Him
With her mother in shock and unable to function, Kaitlin took charge. "I picked Karlton up off my mam. I put him on the floor and shook his shoulders," she said. "His eyes were wide open. His colour had completely gone, and I knew at that minute he needed CPR."
Despite Kaitlin's efforts and those of a neighbor trained in first aid who rushed to help, Karlton was already in grave condition. He was rushed to the hospital where the family spent six agonizing days by his side before doctors delivered the devastating news: Karlton had suffered global brain damage and would not recover.
The Final Goodbye
Kaitlin described her mother's final moments with Karlton before the life support machines were turned off. "She spoke to him, she made him promises," Kaitlin shared. "She made sure to clean his hair, brush his teeth, wipe his face, and change him into fresh PJs with his aftershave on and all his teddies."
"She turned his machine off, and he just didn't pull through. I know that my mam promised him, 'If you need to go now, I'll let you go. You go to sleep now, and don't worry about mam. I promise I'll be strong.' And she's kept that promise."
The Ongoing Pain and Mission
Nearly four years later, the family continues to navigate what Kaitlin describes as "a massive range of emotions." She still thinks about her brother's voice "all the time" and sometimes believes she can hear him calling out "sister!"
Now Kaitlin is determined to raise awareness about the dangers of helium inhalation, which experts warn can cause brain death in moments as oxygen is displaced from the lungs. "It's too large of a risk to take," she emphasized. "You're dicing with death. You might make it and just have a silly voice, but you don't know which way it's going to turn out."
Other Tragic Cases
Kaitlin has learned of at least two other children who have died in similar circumstances since Karlton's passing. In April 2021, eight-year-old Luke Ramone Harper from Dublin died after placing a partially deflated helium balloon over his face. In April 2024, Joshua Dunbar was celebrating his eighth birthday at his Merseyside home when he was found unconscious beside a helium balloon, later dying from asphyxia.
"To find that this is continuing to happen after trying to raise awareness is absolutely gut-wrenching," Kaitlin said. "It hurts so much to hear that another life has been lost due to inhalation of helium."
Call for Action and Awareness
Following Karlton's death, coroner James Thompson wrote to The Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) expressing concerns that helium balloons are "freely available to purchase without restriction" and that parents "are not fully aware of the risks."
Kaitlin says she has yet to see warning labels on helium balloons and believes much more needs to be done. "Regardless of how safe you want to be about it, the only way to ensure your child doesn't inhale helium is to just not buy it," she advised. "No parent can be with their child 24/7. It's impossible."
She suggests alternatives like air-filled balloon stacks that are "spectacular-looking" without the deadly risk. Kaitlin also expressed concern about trends involving inhaling gases from nitrous oxide cans, warning that people often don't realize they're dying until it's too late.
"I feel a huge responsibility to make everyone aware," Kaitlin concluded. "I wish I could scream it from the rooftops and let the whole world hear me. I won't ever be able to hear my brother's voice or feel his touch again. Life is now filled with pain and will never be the same. I don't want any other family to feel this way."
