A 12-year-old girl from Belfast who suffered a lung collapse and spent four days in an induced coma has warned children never to start vaping. Sarah Griffin, who had asthma and was a heavy vaper, was rushed to hospital with breathing problems a month ago. Her mother Mary told the BBC she feared she was going to lose her daughter.
Sarah hid her vapes from her mother, even cutting holes in the carpet to keep them out of sight. By the summer, she was getting through a 4,000-puff vape in just a few days, despite it being illegal to sell vapes to under-18s. She became addicted to the nicotine hit and slept with the vape on her pillow.
In early September, Sarah developed a head cold which, combined with her vaping and poor use of her asthma inhaler, created what her doctor described as a 'perfect storm'. She was taken to hospital where an X-ray showed only one lung was working properly. Within hours she was in intensive care and put into an induced coma.
After four days, Sarah was gradually brought round but has been left with permanent lung damage. She now does lung exercises expected of an 80-year-old. Her mother urged parents to be aware that children may be vaping despite their efforts to stop them.
Sarah hopes her experience will help others: 'Don't start doing it, because once you start doing it, you don't stop doing it. You only stop when you basically have to, when it's a life or death situation.'
The UK government has announced plans to restrict the marketing and sale of vapes targeted at children, with a consultation open for eight weeks. Health Secretary Steve Barclay said the government is committed to taking immediate legislative action, while shadow health secretary Wes Streeting said a Labour government would come down like a 'tonne of bricks' on vaping companies targeting children.
