Gas and Solvent Use headlines October to December 2025

UK

Mum's urgent plea after beloved daughter, 20, suddenly dies Amy Louise Leonard, 20, died, with her mum desperate to raise awareness of the dangers of laughing gas

Boy, 12, dies after ‘copying dangerous chroming craze’ A 12-year-old boy died from inhaling deodorant in what his family and coroner suspect was part of a social media ‘craze’.

Girl, 13, tragically dies after taking part in dangerous social media trend
The family of Tiegan Jarman, a 'loving' and 'warm' 13-year-old, have been devastated by the teenager's death and are now hoping to raise awareness of dangerous social media trends

Ireland

Teenage girl died after inhaling aerosol deodorant, inquest hears A teenage girl suffered fatal brain damage after inhaling the contents of an aerosol deodorant, an inquest has heard.

Irish dad warns parents and teens after son dies from inhaling deodorant
Fourteen-year-old Daniel died in his bedroom after one 'mistake' cost him his life

France

Roubaix: A teenage girl found dead at home surrounded by nitrous oxide canisters The discovery was made Sunday evening in an apartment in downtown Roubaix, after a neighbor, worried about the 17-year-old resident's lack of movement, raised the alarm.

Australia

Three teens ‘huffing nangs’ at time of Waikato crash that killed 5, coroner finds An unlicensed teen driver who crossed a centreline and ploughed into an oncoming vehicle was seen “huffing nangs” in the moments before a deadly crash that claimed five lives.

New Zealand

Coroner urges awareness after Whakatāne teen’s accidental death from ‘huffing’ toxic butane A day of fun and a planned sleepover for two best friends ended in tragedy after they decided to “huff” from an aerosol deodorant can.

Gas and Solvent Use headlines July to September 2025

UK

Teenager killed grandad after inhaling laughing gas while driving A grandfather who left the pub smiling was struck and killed by a teen driving a car while inhaling laughing gas.

Romford boy, 11, found dead after inhaling aerosol fumes An 11-year-old boy from Harold Hill died after inhaling aerosol fumes, a court has heard.

Driver who inhaled nitrous oxide gas before and after killing cyclist jailed Cain Byrne sentenced to 11 and a half years in young offender institution over death of Graham Slinn in South Yorkshire

Speeding drink-driver high on nitrous oxide caused fatal crash on Aston Expressway, court told Ryan Sandhu, aged 21, was killed in a road traffic collision on the Aston Expressway on June 2 last year

'Reckless' driver who caused passenger's death in North Lincolnshire crash is sentenced An uninsured and unlicensed speeding driver under the influence of cannabis and nitrous oxide whose "reckless" and "extremely selfish" actions caused the death of a passenger has been sentenced to more than 12 years behind bars.

Man jailed after killing woman in collision A driver who was under the influence of nitrous oxide when he caused a fatal crash, resulting in the death of a woman, has been jailed for more than 14 years.

Man died from butane gas exposure after leaving prison A man died from a lack of oxygen after inhaling butane gas in his bedroom while under the care of the probation service, an inquest has heard.

 

The idiot on laughing gas who drove his Audi like a 'bat out of hell' Arran Donnelly lost control of his car before tragic collision

USA 

DUII-Related Case That Killed Two Ends in Eight-Year Sentence Investigators suspected the crash was a result of impairment, and court records indicate several whippet-related items were entered as evidence...

Spain

Brit woman killed in Ibiza car smash after 4×4 driven by ‘drug-driver’ mounts pavement leaving two others injured The suspect allegedly consumed deadly laughing gas moments before the accident

New Zealand

Coroner criticises Oranga Tamariki over systemic failings in huffing death of 14-year-old runaway Ruby Rose Tear, 14, died from accidental butane inhalation – known as huffing – at her grandmother’s West

Gas and Solvent Use headlines April to June 2025

UK

'Gregarious' Halifax student, 19, dies in horror crash after 'losing his head' A young driver died after he crashed head-on into a BMW while high on cocaine and after inhaling nitrous oxide from a balloon.

Mum, 21, died at home after inhaling laughing gas while battling chest infection, inquest told Kira Booth was discovered in her flat in Burnley by a support worker in November after she went silent on social media for 24 hours.

Birmingham New Street Station attacker who 'bit and clawed' police dies at bail hostel The 30-year-old was said to have died from ‘solvent abuse’ at the centre – a site used to accommodate offenders after they are released on licence from prison.

USA

Heartbroken mom's warning about 'hippy crack' after daughter dies from overdose on every day product Ashley Weir, who died at 30 years old, started inhaling nitrous oxide, also known as whippets or laughing gas, in 2020 after being introduced to it while working in a restaurant.

Springfield man convicted of manslaughter for crash that killed 2 in SE Salem A 12-person jury on Wednesday unanimously found Terrance H. Quackenbush-Benson guilty of two counts of first- and second-degree manslaughter for huffing an inhalant, driving into the wrong lane on Southeast Cordon Road and causing a head-on collision that killed two people.

Medical Examiner's Office says 9-year-old San Diego girl died from nitrous oxide complications A nine-year-old girl died in March from "methemoglobinemia in the setting of recent nitrous oxide administration" following dental surgery in Vista, the Medical Examiner's Office confirmed Thursday.

Arizona teen girl dies after copying viral "dusting" trend Renna O'Rourke died on Sunday, June 1 after seven days in an ICU. Her death came after she participated in an act known to many on social media as "dusting."

BRAZIL

Girl, 8, died after participating in dangerous challenge on trendy app most parents don't know about Sarah de Castro went into cardiac arrest after she took up a challenge on Kwai, a Chinese-owned app similar to TikTok, and inhaled fumes from an Old Spice aerosol deodorant last Thursday.

Greece

Four teenagers released after classmate dies from aerosol inhalation in Paphos Four 17-year-old boys arrested following the death of a classmate who inhaled lighter gas at a school in Paphos have been formally charged and released.

Gas and Solvent Use headlines January to March 2025

 UK

Crash driver took laughing gas before woman killed

Mohammed Irshad, 36, of no fixed address, had inhaled the substance – also known as laughing gas – before he drove his Mercedes into a Nissan on the opposite carriageway of St Helen's Road, Bolton, in 22 June 2024, Greater Manchester Police said.

Speeding driver inhaled laughing gas before killing 'loving gran' crossing road
Washe Manyatelo was driving a Mercedes at excessive speed when he struck Annette Dixon, 70, after she got off a bus.

USA

Florida woman’s family files lawsuit seeking to halt sales of Galaxy Gas and other nitrous oxide after her death

Filed Thursday in state court in Orange County, Florida, by the family of a woman who died after what relatives said was a yearslong addiction to the gas canisters, the lawsuit accuses manufacturers and smoke shops of exploiting a legal loophole that allows them to sell nitrous oxide canisters if they are marketed as a culinary tool rather than an inhalant.

Nitrous oxide tanks found beside late My Chemical Romance drummer Bob Bryar
Bob Bryar, former drummer for My Chemical Romance, had tanks of nitrous oxide next to him when he was found dead, according to reports.

Morocco

Teenage girl's death in Casablanca sparks concern over 'laughing gas' abuse
Casablanca is reeling from the recent death of a teenage girl linked to the consumption of nitrous oxide, commonly known as “laughing gas.” The incident has ignited widespread concern among citizens and civil society activists, who warn of the growing use of this substance among young people.

Brazil

Chroming: Girl, 11, dies after inhaling deodorant while trying dangerous TikTok challenge in Brazil
Brenda Sophia Melo de Santana died after inhaling an aerosol deodorant in Bom Jardim, in the Brazilian state of Pernambuco on Sunday, March 9.

Gas and Solvent Use headlines October to December 2024

UK

100mph laughing gas driver jailed for killing friends A driver who was filmed inhaling laughing gas behind the wheel before a high-speed crash has been jailed for killing three teenage friends.

Victims violently beaten with metal canister in unprovoked attack in Lower Stone Street, Maidstone
A thug who repeatedly struck two strangers with a heavy nitrous oxide canister in a late-night street attack has been jailed.

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Mum shares shocking images of son, 12, in cardiac arrest after deadly 'chroming' challenge Mum Nichola King, 36, heard a loud thud and rushed over to find her 12-year-old son Cesar having a seizure on the kitchen floor - after trying a social media trend

USA

1 dead following crash, vehicle fire "The cause of the crash is still being investigated, though it is believed that huffing of aerosolized chemicals (nitrous oxide or dust-off spray) may be a factor in this incident," the news release said

Hearing delayed for woman accused of fatally striking pedestrian in Eureka An arraignment on Friday for a Eureka woman who allegedly inhaled nitrous oxide in May before crashing her car into a pedestrian, killing him, and later injuring multiple people was delayed until January.

Italy

Man Inhales ‘Laughter Drug’ From Balloon: Dies at 26, Celebrating Birthday The tragedy in Salento, the young man was on the street a few steps from home. The intervention of 118 was useless

Gas and Solvent Use headlines July to September 2024

UK

Boy, 16, killed woman after inhaling laughing gas A 16-year-old boy has been found guilty of the manslaughter of a woman during a row after they both inhaled laughing gas on Christmas Eve.

Driver killed in New Year's Day roundabout crash reached 111mph after drinking an inhaling laughing gas A young man who died in a crash on New Year's Day drove at 111mph after drinking alcohol and inhaling laughing gas, an inquest heard.

Canterbury Academy pupil, 13, suspected to have inhaled deodorant before tragic death was ‘intelligent’ and ‘cheeky’ boy a boy suspected to have inhaled deodorant before his tragic death.

Speeding driver who killed his passenger jailed A speeding driver who had been drinking and taking nitrous oxide before a fatal crash in North Lincolnshire has been jailed for more than 10 years.

James Thomson attacked 71-year-old after inhaling butane gas A WALLYFORD man pulled an elderly man to the ground in an unprovoked attack after spending the day inhaling butane gas.

Man needs 24/7 care after 'laughing gas' crash A driver inhaled nitrous oxide before a car crash which left one of his passengers needing round-the-clock care.

Could my daughter have been saved - did she slip through the net? She had been struggling with a diagnosed emotional unstable personality disorder, which included extreme mood swings, complicated by her addiction to solvents.

Gas and Solvent Use headlines April to June 2024

UK

Inquest concludes into deaths of two men in Bradford crash Arsalan Khalid Baig’s relatives spoke out following the conclusion of an inquest into his death and that of drug driver Mohammed Azad Khan, who had taken cannabis and nitrous oxide and was in a “drug-intoxicated condition” when his car failed to negotiate a 90-degree bend on a Bradford industrial estate.

New driver inhaled laughing gas before killing friend and hurting two others in horror smash speeding new driver who inhaled laughing gas and smoked cannabis before killing his own friend and wounding two others during a horror head-on smash has been locked up.

Convicted robber found dead in Newcastle four days after release from HMP Northumberland However, the report added that Manson - who is likely to have died after inhaling butane gas - was "clearly dead and had been for some time".

Plymouth driver on laughing gas killed mum-of-three after jumping red light Harry Lock was heading home to Plymouth when he collided with a woman on a bicycle.

USA

Man dead after huffing, explosion in vehicle in Port St. Lucie A 48-year-old Port St. Lucie man died Thursday after an apparent explosion while “huffing” in his vehicle in St. Lucie West, police said.

Historic $7.8M jury award in death of Minnesotan struck by driver who was high from huffing aerosol A federal jury in Minnesota has found that the maker of a dust remover must pay $7.8 million in connection with a driver inhaling the aerosol to get high and causing a two-vehicle crash in far northern Minnesota that killed another motorist.

Plaintiff alleges computer duster manufacturer negligence led to husband's death Spring Piatek has accused Norazza, Inc. of producing and distributing defective computer dusters that led to the death of her husband, Timothy Piatek.

Gas and Solvent Use headlines January to March 2024

 UK

Bolton: Man found deceased at home in Little Lever Police Coroners Officer Robert Struttman said a postmortem had been carried out and the causes of death were given as a sudden death with an underlying cause of solvent abuse.

Boy, 11, dies after viral social media 'chroming' challenge goes wrong Tommie-Lee Gracie Billington, 11, died after allegedly attempting a dangerous online stunt called 'chroming', which involves inhaling toxic chemicals such as aerosol cans

Heartbroken mum of student killed by laughing gas calls on ministers to make it class A drug The heartbroken mum said: 'Nitrous oxide can kill you. It should be a class A drug'

USA

Stabbing reported at Bozeman Walmart a man was 'huffing' canned air outside the store when he became agitated and reportedly attacked a bystander. The bystander then attempted to defend himself with a pocket knife, stabbing the man in the stomach resulting in non-life-threatening injuries.

Brazil 

Police investigate cause of death of 11-year-old boy in São Gabriel do Oeste In an interview with Idest, delegate Matheus Vital, responsible for the investigations, stated that the possible cause of death is inhalation of aerosol deodorant.

Gas and Solvent Use headlines October to December 2023

UK

Rohail Jillani took nitrous oxide before driving at 98mph and killing Nadia Yusuf, 17 A speeding motorist who filmed himself inhaling ‘hippy crack’ and drove close to 100mph before killing a 17-year-old girl in a crash has been jailed. 

Woman, 20, died from inhaling lighter fluid gases Ruby Williams, from March, had butane, isobutane and propane detected in her blood system, an inquest into her death heard. 

Driver high on nitrous oxide and recording on phone kills girl, 15, in horror crash into ravine A van driver who killed a schoolgirl while high on nitrous oxide and recording on his phone has been sentenced for causing death by dangerous driving.

Boy, 16, jailed for life for murdering teen who ‘tried to protect his friend’ Ben Moncrieff had been on a night out with friends in Bath city centre before he was murdered in the street in the early hours of Saturday, May 6 this year.

Boy, 17, stabbed to death by two teenagers ‘under influence of nitrous oxide’ A 17-year-old boy who moved from London to Yorkshire for a “safer life” was “hacked to death” by two teenagers who were “under the influence of nitrous oxide”, a court has heard.

Gas and Solvent Use headlines July to September 2023

 UK

Halliwell: Man died after 'excess use' of laughing gas A man discovered dead in a car in Halliwell died after 'excess nitrous oxide use', an inquest has heard.

Fatal crash group were drinking and inhaling nitrous oxide, friend tells police  Driver Rafel Jeanne, 24, and passengers Darcy Ross, 21, and Eve Smith, 21, died in the crash, while the two remaining passengers, Sophie Russon, 20, and Shane Loughlin, 32, were injured but survived.

Disqualified driver jailed for killing two pedestrians on pavement  Jason Campbell, who had been inhaling nitrous oxide, ploughed into pedestrians John Manning and Mark Varney in Bedford on 31 October 2020.

Serial Leeds deodorant thief jailed and banned from city centre  A shoplifter known to retailers as "the Lynx thief" due to his numerous thefts of aerosol deodorants has been banned from Leeds city centre for five years

Norwich City footballer, 20, jailed over horror car crash which injured three people after inhaling hippy crack Flynn Clarke's BMW swerved into the opposite carriageway in April last year and crashed into a motorhome, leaving a passenger fearing he'd never walk again.

Ireland

Tributes paid to teenager who died 'after doing TikTok aerosol challenge' The teenager, from Co. Clare, has been named locally as Sarah Mescall, from Kilnamona, and died on Monday night after she was placed in an induced coma.

New Zealand

Carpet layer Ryan Mead died after accidentally inhaling toxic solvent during job The death of a carpet layer who was overcome by fumes during a job and died the next day in hospital was caused by exposure to a toxic solvent.

Australia

Death of Indigenous mental health patient in Darwin hospital due to ‘litany of failures’, inquest told Ngalarina, a sistergirl also known as Xysc after changing their name in 2017, was an involuntary mental health patient at the hospital in 2022 when they died alone in a bathroom from volatile substance abuse.

USA

‘He wasn’t Tommy’: Family shares story of inhalant death  On Halloween last year, Byers failed to show up for work. His father found his son’s lifeless body in the bathroom of his Golden Valley apartment.