Gunner Matthew Hyatt died a week after his 6th birthday, according to an obituary posted to Keepes Funeral Home.
MOUNT CARMEL, Ill. — A balloon likely suffocated a 6-year-old boy in Illinois, according to the Wabash County Coroner’s Office.
The boy was identified by his aunt on Facebook as Gunner Matthew Hyatt. The accident happened while he was at his home in Mount Carmel, Illinois, May 29, according to the coroner.
“He was an absolute joy, and such a thrilling child to be around. There’s not a person that knew him that would say he wasn’t an incredible child,” she wrote. “There are no words to express how deeply we are feeling his absence… We find comfort in knowing that he will never know the sorrows of life because his six short years were spent in happiness. He touched so many lives in his short time here with us.”
While an investigation is still ongoing, the coroner said Hyatt’s cause of death is “consistent with suffocation due to a Mylar-helium filled balloon.”
“While often seen as harmless decorations, these balloons can pose serious risks — particularly to young children — including the rare but devastating possibility of suffocation and/or helium toxicity,” said coroner Shaun Keepes in a statement.
Mylar balloons are frequently used and sold at many stores. They’re the reflective balloons usually filled with helium in shapes other than the classic tear drop shape balloons take when inflated.
Despite popular belief, the material they’re made of is not actually metal. Mylar, the “brand name” for the material, balloons have a seam and are made of metal-coated plastic such as polyethylene or nylon, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. This makes it conductive, which can cause other issues when not closely monitored.
These are the types of balloons that might get caught in powerlines and cause outages. The problem is so bad in some cities and states that they’re outright banned from being released.
Hyatt died a week after his 6th birthday, according to an obituary posted to Keepes Funeral Home.
“Gunner was a joyful and fun-spirited little boy whose laughter brightened every room and whose heart was full of adventure,” it read. “Gunner lived life with a fearless spirit, a playful heart, and a smile that will never be forgotten.”
He had just completed kindergarten at Mount Carmel Elementary School in Illinois.
Additional tests are being done to confirm the official cause of death.
The Hyatt family set up a GoFundMe to raise money after his death, describing him as the “craziest, most loving little boy.”
He is survived by his parents Steven and Kayla Hyatt; big brother, Granger Hyatt and big sister, Myah Hyatt, according to the funeral home.
