A 12-year-old Hamilton boy died from "sudden sniffing death syndrome" after inhaling deodorant through a sock while spending time with friends, a coroner has found.
Te Kaihautu Mark Peta Ropata Sadlier died on June 17, 2023 after collapsing near a bus station in Hamilton.
According to Coroner Heather McKenzie's findings, Te Kaihautu had been spending time with friends when they visited a supermarket and the Te Ara shopping centre.
He had obtained a can of deodorant from the supermarket and was inhaling its fumes through a sock, a practice commonly known as huffing.
The group became involved in an argument with some girls before moving to a bus station area, where they were approached by others who said their brother wanted to speak to Te Kaihautu.
Te Kaihautu ran away while continuing to inhale the deodorant. He then stopped running, inhaled more deodorant and suddenly collapsed.
Others rushed to his aid and performed CPR until emergency services arrived, but he could not be revived and died at the scene.
McKenzie's findings revealed Te Kaihautu was known by his friends to inhale fumes from aerosol cans.
His family had also noticed the smell of deodorant coming from his bedroom, where he kept a large number of deodorants and sprays.
A post-mortem examination determined Te Kaihautu died from "sudden sniffing death syndrome", while toxicology testing confirmed the presence of butane — a highly flammable gas commonly used as a propellant in aerosol sprays — in his system.
Police investigated the circumstances surrounding his death and found nothing suspicious, concluding no other person was criminally liable. The coroner accepted those findings.
'Devastating' dangers of huffing highlighted
In her findings, McKenzie highlighted existing public health warnings about the potentially fatal consequences of inhaling volatile substances.
According to the New Zealand Drug Foundation, sudden sniffing death syndrome (SSDS) occurred when a surge of adrenaline after inhalant use triggered a fatal disturbance to the heart’s rhythm – something that could be brought on by physical activity, sudden movements or being startled.
That was particularly relevant to Te Kaihautu’s death, with the 12-year-old having been running shortly before he collapsed.
"SSDS can occur at any level of use, even the first time using. As many as 50% of inhalant-related deaths are caused by SSDS," the foundation said.
It advised against startling or shouting at people using volatile substances, and recommended staying calm, giving them space and having them avoid exercise, big movements or even laughter afterwards.
Health New Zealand warned of “devastating” medical consequences, saying the chemicals in solvents and aerosol sprays could "induce irregular and rapid heart rhythms and lead to fatal heart failure within minutes of a session of prolonged sniffing”.
Other risks included seizures, suffocation, choking, coma and serious injuries from impaired awareness of surroundings.
McKenzie said she had considered whether further recommendations were needed to prevent similar deaths, but concluded: "In the light of existing public information about the dangers of huffing, and of other coroners’ decisions warning of this too, I make no further recommendations."
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