A six-year-old boy in Illinois, Guanner Hyatt, tragically passed away after inhaling helium from a Mylar balloon, as reported by family and local officials.
The Guabash County Coroner’s Office stated that the cause of death appears to be asphyxiation due to inhalation of an inert gas at the Carmel Mt. Carmel Med Home on May 29th.
“Preliminary findings indicate that he died from asphyxiation related to helium-filled Mylar balloons,” the coroner commented. They also issued a public warning about the relatively unknown dangers associated with large balloons aimed at children.
“Even though these balloons are often viewed as harmless decorations, they can present significant risks for young kids, including rare but serious threats such as asphyxiation and helium toxicity.”
Investigations, including toxicology reports, are ongoing to confirm the exact cause of the boy’s death, which is also under scrutiny by local law enforcement.
Gunner had just finished kindergarten at Mount Carmel Elementary School, and he was fondly remembered as a joyful and adventurous child who filled every room with laughter, according to his obituary.
His family shared that he thrived outdoors, enjoying activities like baseball, fishing, and exploring the woods. He had a particular passion for monster trucks and relished muddy rides with loved ones. “Gunner was full of life, with a fearless spirit and a smile that will be missed,” they said.
The boy, who celebrated his birthday on May 21st, was the youngest of three siblings. Aunt Bethany Hyatt described him as “an absolute joy,” stating, “There’s not a person who wouldn’t call him incredible.” She expressed profound sorrow over his loss, indicating, “Words can’t capture how deeply we feel. He’ll always be in our thoughts, and we won’t fully recover from this.”
His funeral is scheduled for Friday afternoon at the Chapel at Keeps Funeral Home.
In a related incident, a young girl in Tennessee died from a similar circumstance involving a birthday balloon shortly after celebrating her seventh birthday. Her mother issued a warning to parents about the risks associated with foil helium balloons after her daughter choked on “7” Mylar balloons.
