HAMILTON - A 13-year-old Hamilton youth has died after sniffing flyspray - the second such death in New Zealand.
Gerard Anthony Versteeg died in Waikato Hospital on Tuesday after collapsing at a party in Tamahere, south of Hamilton, last Friday.
The Hillcrest High School student's death follows an incident twoyears ago in which another young person died after inhaling flyspray.
Gerard's father, Gerard sen, said the family were still trying to come to grips with Gerard's death. Gerard is believed to have suffered from a heart condition that could have been aggravated by the flyspray, but Mr Versteeg would not confirm this.
The party supervisor, Dr Lesley Topping, said around 30 third formers were at her home celebrating the birthday of her daughter, Margaret.
Gerard is believed to have sniffed the flyspray outside, telling friends to leave him alone when they noticed him acting strangely. He was later discovered unconscious and Dr Topping performed CPR on him.
Medical toxicologist Dr John Fountain, of the National Poisons Centre, confirmed this was the second such death in New Zealand.
"We've seen this sort of abuse quietly grow for a number of years ... "
