Boy dies sniffing $6.95 can of lighter gas

By LOUISA CLEAVE

Grieving father Harry Stanley wants sales restrictions on substances such as butane lighter gas. His 15-year-old son, Joe, is dead after "huffing" the toxic fumes.

Joe Stanley, named after his All Black uncle, collapsed after inhaling an aerosol can of the gas behind a dairy, where he had bought it for $6.95.

Friends thumped Joe's chest as he struggled for breath and a hairdresser from a nearby salon tried to resuscitate him.

Mr Stanley raced to the shops near the family's Glenfield home and watched ambulance officers try to restart his son's heart with a defibrillator and adrenalin injections.

Yesterday, the devastated parents spoke about the tragedy to warn young people and other parents about the dangers.

Joe's friends told the family "a lot of children" inhale volatile substances, which they call "huffing". The Stanleys fear more could die.

Mr Stanley said he talked to his son - about cigarettes, alcohol and drugs, including marijuana and methamphetamine.

"I always told him if you're ever going to try any substances, come to me first, tell me and I'll give you whatever information I can about it."

He had felt the discussion had worked when Joe approached him a month ago to ask if he could drink beer at a supervised birthday party.

"I thought everything was okay," Mr Stanley said.

"Joe was just a normal boy. All he was looking for was probably a good time and was not aware of the dangers. He liked life."

Mr Stanley did not know Joe had been experimenting with inhalants, which, like anaesthetics, can slow down body functions.

Inhalant abuse can result in sudden sniffing death [SSD], a syndrome that can cause a wildly erratic heartbeat and increased pulse, which can end in heart failure.

Users have also been known to asphyxiate by failing to lift their heads out of plastic bags containing solvents.

The day before his death, Joe had written about his "best qualities" for a school project.

His workbook says: "My best qualities include that I am honest because I almost never lie. I am always polite and caring. I say please and thank you. Sometimes I have to work on my manners but I am friendly and very responsible."

Joe's mother, Teri, said she had also spoken to him about drugs during a recent visit from American Samoa, where she works as a teacher, for his 15th birthday.

Mr Stanley is calling for restricted sales of substances such as the butane his son bought.

He said Joe could not legally buy cigarettes but was able to purchase gas for cigarette lighters.

"There has been a lot of focus on 'P' [pure methamphetamine] but it needs to be known this [butane] is potentially at an epidemic stage. It's used by a lot of kids."

The dairy owners who sold Joe the gas would not give their names, but said they were saddened by the death. They would continue to sell the product, but with greater caution.

Police are investigating Joe's death on behalf of the coroner.