An 8-year-old boy died from suffocation after a helium balloon accidentally blocked his breathing, turning his birthday celebration into an unimaginable tragedy. Now, his mother is pleading with other families to choose safer decorations.
Little Joshua Dunbar had just turned eight. Like most kids, he was excited to celebrate his birthday with balloons, presents, and cake. His home was filled with colorful decorations—including a giant, helium-filled balloon shaped like the number eight.
But later that day, after the party had ended, Joshua was found unresponsive in his bedroom. The number-shaped helium balloon was covering his face.
Despite efforts by paramedics to save him, Joshua could not be revived.
“It was absolutely traumatic,” his mother Carly said in an emotional interview with The Mirror. “You hear the screams, the shouts, the sirens. You hear the doctor’s words, saying they’re really sorry. It was time for him.”
She recalled her final moments with her son, saying, “We just held his hands… and I said, ‘If your angel wings are there and you’re ready to take them, then take them.’ Within minutes, he was gone.”
How helium turned deadly
At an inquest into Joshua’s death, the coroner confirmed that the cause was “asphyxia involving a helium balloon.”
Helium isn’t poisonous, but it can replace the oxygen in the air. When someone breathes in helium instead of air, the body doesn’t get the oxygen it needs to survive. In Joshua’s case, the balloon had covered his face, and he quickly lost the ability to breathe.
“This was a most tragic day, because it started as a celebration,” said Coroner Andre Rebello. He explained that Joshua might have been playing with the balloon or trying to make his voice sound funny by breathing in the helium, a common but risky practice.
“He was a little boy in his room playing, and tragically, it had fatal consequences,” Rebello added.
Mother’s mission to save lives
In the days following Joshua’s death, Carly took to social media to share her pain—and her warning.
“Please trust me when I say do not buy your children helium balloons,” she wrote on Facebook. “Every day since, I’ve hated myself for buying that balloon that took our boy.”
Now, Carly is urging parents to only use air-filled balloons for parties. “They look just as nice,” she says, “and they won’t cost a child their life.”
She hopes her message can prevent even one more family from experiencing this kind of loss. “If one, two, three people stop and think and don’t buy a helium balloon—that’s one child’s death being prevented.”
Child’s death sparks urgent questions
Joshua’s death is shining a light on a hidden danger that many families may not realize: helium balloons, while fun and festive, can pose serious risks—especially for young children.
While balloon-related accidents are rare, experts have long warned about the risks of suffocation. According to safety organizations, balloons—especially uninflated or broken ones—are among the top choking hazards for children under 8. The added danger of helium displacing oxygen adds another layer of risk that parents may not be aware of.
Joshua’s story is heartbreaking, and his mother’s message is clear – even something as joyful as a birthday balloon can become deadly in the wrong situation.
Her plea is simple but powerful—stick with air-filled balloons.
As Carly puts it, “There is no cure for a broken heart. If sharing our story can save even one life, then my little boy’s death won’t have been for nothing.”
So the next time you’re planning a party, take a moment to choose decorations that are not just fun, but safe—for every child in the room.
We send prayers and condolences to Joshua’s family after losing a promising young soul. May Joshua rest in peace.