Tragedy in Te Puke, New Zealand: young mother dies in a helium mishap.

On September 10, 2022, an ordinary day took a devastating turn for Faith Waterman Batistich’s loved ones. The 20-year-old mother of two was celebrating her youngest child’s first birthday when she tragically died after inhaling helium at the party.

This sudden and unexpected tragedy quickly prompted a powerful response from her family, who want to raise awareness of an issue most people don’t understand.

A Day That Started Like Any Other

Faith was surrounded by her family and friends, getting ready for her daughter’s first birthday party. The atmosphere was filled with happiness and laughter, with helium balloons adding to the festive spirit.

As often happens at gatherings, someone suggested inhaling helium from a balloon to make funny voices – a common prank at celebrations for years. However, this time, something went terribly wrong.

The group decided to inhale the helium directly from the canister. Although Faith was initially hesitant, she eventually joined in. Tragically, someone then increased the flow of gas, a fatal action that caused Faith to collapse almost instantly.

The Fatal Accident

At first, her family was in disbelief. As her twin sister, Eden Waterman, described it, “It went too fast and kind of shot her in the back of the neck.”

In a frantic attempt to save her, Faith’s mother and a cousin immediately started CPR. However, when paramedics arrived at the scene, there was nothing they could do to revive her. Despite their efforts to resuscitate her for 45 minutes, including administering adrenaline, the young mother could not be saved.

Helium: A Deadly Gas in Brief

Helium is a colorless, odorless, tasteless gas that displaces oxygen in the lungs, causing hypoxia, a lack of body oxygen that can be fatal in seconds.

Devastated by the loss, Faith’s family has united to warn the public about the dangers of inhaling helium from a canister, which is often done without considering the risks.

In this particular situation, the rush of helium Faith inhaled was so forceful that it instantly displaced all the oxygen in her system.

The Family’s Call to Action

Following the tragedy, Faith’s family started working to raise awareness about helium use. Furthermore, Eden spoke of the profound emptiness of losing her sister, “It’s like you lost yourself as well.” The family has called for tighter controls on helium sales, such as banning individual purchases and putting bigger warnings on packaging.

Eden also pointed out that the existing warning labels on helium canisters regarding inhalation are too small for most people to easily notice.

The family has also urged stores not to sell helium directly to the public, suggesting only store employees should fill balloons, which could help prevent similar future accidents.

The Community Impact and Coroner’s Recommendations

Furthermore, the coroner, Louella Dunn, assigned to Faith’s case, explained that, while helium inhalation seems a harmless trick that causes a “chipmunk” voice, the gas can be deadly if inhaled pressurized.

“The canister’s warnings are in very small print. The warning relevant to dangers of inhalation is the last warning of five other listed warnings,” she added.

Furthermore, she commented that Faith clearly did not realize the risks associated with breathing in helium and described her passing as both unforeseen and deeply sad.

Finally, the coroner suggested inhalation danger warnings should be much more prominent on helium canisters, recommending a large, bold notice on bottle tops to alert buyers to serious risks.

The Tragic Lesson and Faith’s Legacy

Faith’s family has made it clear that their pain must not be in vain. Through this tragic experience, they hope to save lives and prevent others from suffering a similar loss.

Their message is clear: it’s crucial to recognize the hidden dangers in activities that may seem like harmless fun. By telling their story, they aim to increase public awareness and change how people use helium at social gatherings.

Below, you’ll find their family photographs. The last picture they took together is located at the end:

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