6-year-old Illinois boy dies after suffocating on helium-filled balloon

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — A 6-year-old boy from Illinois died after suffocating on a helium-filled balloon.

The Wabash County Coroner in Illinois said he responded to a home in Mount Carmel May 29 for an accidental death, reported by Fox59. Mount Carmel, Illinois, is near the state border with Indiana.

Preliminary findings indicate the boy died from suffocating on a Mylar helium-filled balloon, but a final cause will be determined after additional testing.

Fox59 reported the family identified the boy as Gunner Hyatt.

The coroner said he hopes this case will raise public awareness of the large child-size balloons.

Mount Carmel Police and Illinois State Police Child Death Task Force are continuing to investigate.

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