Teenage Boy Kills Himself With Deodorant In Freak Accident

A teenage boy died from butane gas inhalation in a freak
accident after using too much deodorant spray, an inquest
has heard.
Thomas Townsend would spray deodorant all over his
body instead of showering – using a can a week.
The 16-year-old was found dead on the landing outside
his room by a member of staff at a children’s home in
England.
Paramedics were called to the scene on 29 August last
year but were unable to revive him after the freak
accident.
The coroner’s inquest heard police found 45 cans of
deodorant in the teen’s room – many were discovered to
be empty.
His mother, Sally Townsend, told the inquest: “He would
not take showers but would stand there with a deodorant
and spray half the can on him.
“Then he would spray aftershave to cover up BO (body
odour).
“He would go through a can a week. I didn’t know he had
so many cans in his room but he was a big hoarder.”
Thomas had been placed in a foster home for five years
before his move to Red Lodge in February 2015.
The inquest heard he had a history of self-harm but had
not expressed an interest in substance abuse or taking his
own life.
Thomas was due to start his college education a few
weeks after his death with hopes of becoming a farrier
(someone who makes horseshoes).
Coroner Rachel Redman recorded a verdict of accidental
death, saying: “He sprayed it [deodorant] all over himself
and succumbed to the effects of the gas.”
The cause of death was given as circulation collapse
caused by butane gas inhalation, said pathologist Dr
Kareem Aboualfa, who noted there was no drink or drugs
in the boy’s system.