A coroner has called for clearer warnings on helium canisters following the tragic death of 20-year-old Faith Waterman Batistich, who died instantly after inhaling the gas at her daughter’s second birthday party in September 2022. The New Zealand mother was unaware of the dangers of inhaling helium directly from a pressurized canister, which led to her immediate asphyxiation.
Faith, from a small town near Tauranga, was celebrating her daughter’s birthday when the incident occurred. Guests had been inhaling helium from balloons to create high-pitched voices, a common party trick. However, someone suggested inhaling directly from the helium canister, told the NZ Herald.
Faith’s twin sister, Eden Waterman, recounted the tragic moment: “It took some convincing before Faith stepped up. Just as she inhaled, another person turned up the flow on the canister. It went too fast and kind of shot her in the back of the neck.”
Faith’s last words were, “Oh s**t,” before she collapsed. Eden described the scene as surreal, saying, “I thought she was putting it on at the start.” Family members performed CPR for 45 minutes until paramedics arrived, but Faith had already turned blue and could not be revived.
Coroner Louella Dunn concluded that Faith was “unaware of the inherent dangers of inhaling helium,” calling her death “unexpected and tragic.” She emphasized that while inhaling helium is often seen as harmless fun, it can be life-threatening, especially when inhaled directly from a pressurized canister.
The coroner noted that the warning label on the canister, manufactured by Australian company Alpen, was insufficient. The label, which read, “Do not place the nozzle in mouth or nose for any reason. Doing so can damage lungs and other body parts which can result in serious personal injury or death,” was in small print and did not prominently highlight the risks.
Coroner Dunn recommended that warnings be made more visible, stating, “I recommend that the warning should be in bold print at the top of the canister stating: ‘Do not inhale – the risk of serious personal injury or death’.” She also expressed concern about the “mistaken belief” in the community regarding the safety of inhaling helium.
Faith’s death has sparked calls for increased public awareness about the dangers of helium inhalation. Her family hopes that clearer warnings on canisters will prevent similar tragedies in the future. As Eden poignantly stated, “Nothing anyone did get her back.”