The dangers of young people inhaling aerosol canisters in the belief they will get "a buzz" were highlighted at an inquest yesterday into the death of a 14-year-old girl who died after inhaling butane fumes from an air freshener spray.
South Cork coroner Dr Frank O'Connell returned a verdict of death by misadventure after hearing evidence how Cheryl Munroe from Dan Corkery Place, Macroom, died from a ventricular arrhythmia following inhalation of butane from an air freshener on April 23rd, 2005.
Cheryl's cousin, Denise O'Driscoll (18), told how Cheryl had been visiting their house at Lower Codrum, Macroom, and had gone into her sister Mary Rose's room before coming into her bedroom.
"She said to get a cloth that she wanted to show me something. She came back into my bedroom with the air freshener and the cloth. She put the cloth up to her mouth and began to spray the air freshener into the cloth," Ms O'Driscoll said.
Ms O'Driscoll took the air freshener away from Cheryl but noticed some 10 minutes later that the air freshener was missing. She heard a bang and saw Cheryl lying on her back on the floor. Dr Con Kelleher arrived but was unable to resuscitate her.
Assistant State Pathologist Dr Margaret Bolster said inhaling even a trace of butane can lead to the heart's muscular wall going into spasm or irregular beat, and this was what happened after Cheryl inhaled the gas from the aerosol.