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