Grieving Mother Warns Against Helium Balloons After Son’s Tragic Death
The mother of 8-year-old Joshua Dunbar, who died after his birthday party, is urging parents to avoid helium balloons following what she calls “one of the most tragic of accidents.”
Joshua had just celebrated his birthday on April 27, 2024. Hours later, he was found unresponsive in his bedroom with a large, helium-filled number eight balloon over his head. Despite efforts to save him, he passed away. A coroner confirmed the cause of death was asphyxia due to helium inhalation, which had displaced the oxygen Joshua needed to breathe.
His mother, Carly, described the trauma of losing her son and the heartbreak of watching him slip away. “It was as if he was waiting for me and his dad to give him that OK,” she said. “These are visions I will never be able to erase.”
Carly now pleads with other parents: “Please do not buy your children helium balloons. Stick with air-filled ones. I would never want another family to go through this hell.”
She hopes Joshua’s story will save lives, adding, “Even if just one child is spared, that’s what matters.”