A heartbroken brother has appealed to teenagers to avoid inhaling deodorant fumes, warning “It’s not worth it, not even for one day,” reports Breaking News.
Andrew Maguire’s message comes just two months after the death of his older brother Daniel devastated their entire family, reports Breaking News.
Daniel, from Huntstown, Dublin 15, was only 14 when he died after inhaling deodorant fumes, and his family are now speaking out in hopes of preventing any other teen from losing their life.
Since his death on September 27th, parents Dermot and Yvonne have discovered other cases of young people dying from inhaling gas-based substances, and they are pushing the Minister for Health and Minister for Education to introduce greater awareness and training on solvent misuse, reports Breaking News.
On the night he passed away, Dermot had called up to Daniel asking for the front door key and got the reply of “no problem,” reports Breaking News.
But when no key arrived, Dermot went upstairs half a minute later to find Daniel collapsed on the bedroom floor, and both he and older son Adam carried out CPR until emergency crews got there, though Daniel died a few hours later in hospital, reports Breaking News.
As the family work to spread awareness through school education, Daniel’s younger brother Andrew is urging people his age to think carefully before trying the trend that is affecting children as young as 11 to 14.
Only 17 months apart, the 13-year-old said that despite the usual sibling arguments, the two were incredibly close, reports Breaking News.
“He was a great brother. If I was ever sad, he’d help me through it,” he said, reports Breaking News.
“I looked up to him a lot and wanted to be as good as he was at the gym and with sport,” he said, reports Breaking News.
Daniel trained with Clonee Utd, practised MMA and was a regular at the gym, something Andrew now hopes to continue doing. The pair also supported Liverpool, although Daniel had recently become fond of Celtic.
Andrew knew about some kids inhaling fumes from aerosols but never imagined it could take his brother away from him.
“I’ve heard of people who have done it in the past. I did not expect Daniel to do it, especially because he was so sporty,” he said, reports Breaking News.
Thinking back to the night Daniel died, Andrew remembered desperately hoping his brother would survive.
“I was in my room and heard a scream, and when I got to Daniel’s room, I saw him passed out on the ground, and I could smell the deodorant. I waited with my mam while my dad and brother Adam worked on him (CPR) until the ambulance came,” he said,
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“The paramedics said he was very sick. Then we were told he had stopped breathing but the medics were keeping him alive. But I still had hope because if anyone could do it (recover), it would be Daniel, 100 per cent,” he said, reports Breaking News.
“Daniel took it once and it killed him. I just want to say to teenagers that it’s not worth it. It’s not worth putting your little brother or your family through what we are going through, just for that little buzz that lasts no time,” he said,
“Death waits for no-one,” he added, reports Breaking News.
Andrew says he is coping day by day by spending time outdoors and keeping his friends close, and he doesn’t mind when people ask about Daniel because he loves talking about him.
“Christmas is going to be tough. Every day is tough,” he said, reports Breaking News.
“Nothing can replace your life because of a can of deodorant. Nothing can replace the life we all once had. That has changed forever,” he said, reports Breaking News.
“If he was here now, I’d scream at him. And then I’d say that I miss him so much and that I’m so proud of him and how he was doing at everything. And I’d tell him I love him and all,” he said, reports Breaking News.
The family are now determined to prevent others from suffering similar heartbreak by raising awareness of the hidden dangers in everyday aerosol cans used by kids seeking a quick high.
They have contacted both the Education and Health Ministers to try to get solvent dangers included on school curricula alongside existing lessons on drugs and substances, reports Breaking News.
Daniel’s father Dermot said the family is open to speaking in schools or to any group that wants to learn about the risks of deodorant misuse.
“From the last time I talked to Daniel to the time I saw him passed out was 30 seconds. That’s all it took,” he said, reports Breaking News.
“We had heard of a young girl dying in the same way as Daniel, and we had sat down and talked to him about it. But we didn’t know how widespread the problem was until we got messages from all over the world, but especially all over Ireland, after his passing,” he said, reports Breaking News.
Dermot and Yvonne hope the Government will introduce steps such as banning deodorants in schools, restricting sales to under-18s, and forcing manufacturers to make current warning labels larger.
They also want teachers better trained to recognise aerosol misuse and for it to be included in CPSE student handbooks, reports Breaking News.
“Teenagers think they are invincible, and they are not. Our children are dying because of this and things need to change. Our lives have been shattered. You don’t think it will come to your own door – but it does. Every parent knows their own child and needs to sit down with them and show them a picture of Daniel, show them lives have been devastated – whatever it takes to get the message home,” reports Breaking News.
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