6-year-old boy dies tragically in rare balloon suffocation accident, coroner says
**Related Video Above: What happens when you call 911?
MOUNT CARMEL, Ill. (WJW) — A 6-year-old boy died last month in what the the Wabash County coroner has concluded was a 'tragic accidental death' involving a balloon.
First responders were reportedly called to a home in Mount Carmel, Illinois, on May 29 where the boy, identified by family as Gunner Hyatt, was pronounced dead.
Volunteers build playset for Akron boy with cancer
Wednesday, the coroner's office released its initial findings for how Hyatt died, with a toxicology report still pending.
'Preliminary findings indicate that the cause of death is consistent with suffocation due to a Mylar-helium filled balloon,' the office said in the report.
Wabash County Coroner Shaun Keepes said he wanted to make the public aware of the danger posed by large Mylar balloons, which are often the same size as children.
'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,' the office said.
Couple allegedly bought more Narcan instead of calling 911 in toddler's suspected overdose death: Docs
The boy had just finished Kindergarten at Mount Carmel Elementary School, according to his obituary. He leaves behind his parents, two siblings and everyone else who loved him.
A GoFundMe has been set up for Hyatt's family, who described him as 'the craziest, most loving little boy.'
An investigation is ongoing.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
21 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Second suspect arrested in fake drug deal turned shooting at Love's
WICHITA FALLS (KFDX/KJTL) — A second suspect has been arrested in a fake drug deal that turned into a shooting at Love's Truck Stop about 10:45 p.m. on Friday, May 30. Rahab Ontiveros has been charged in connection with the shooting of Pedro Martinez. According to the arrest affidavit, before the shooting, Jose 'Pelon' Perez had asked Ontiveros to sell Martinez some truck equipment. However, Martinez didn't pay Perez the agreed-upon amount. New details in the Love's Travel Stop shooting suspect's arrest after car chase Later, Martinez reached out to Ontiveros, looking to buy methamphetamine. Ontiveros went to a store and bought bath salts, which she and Perez planned to say was meth. They agreed to meet at Love's Truck Stop. Martinez and his girlfriend arrived at the Love's Truck Stop, where Martinez's friend, Marcelino Romero, joined them later. Perez and Ontiveros arrived in separate vehicles. Ontiveros also asked a friend of hers, Jose Salas, to be there, and in exchange, she would buy him a beer. Once everyone was there, Martinez's girlfriend went inside Love's. Ontiveros approached Martinez to make the fake drug deal. Martinez had Romero inspect the 'drugs', who quickly found out they were fake. At this point, Perez jumped out of his vehicle with his gun drawn and began firing. Multiple witnesses on the scene said they heard four to eight gunshots from the southside parking lot at Love's Truck Stop. Ontiveros got in her car and left the scene. Romero also left the scene. Perez, who was still armed, ran to Salas, who was not in on the plot and was driving away, and forced him to drive somewhere at gunpoint away from the scene. Ontiveros said she had taken the revolver to her residence on Borton, wrapped it in gray sweats, given it to her son, and told him to hide it. The gun, a Heritage Rough Rider .22 caliber long-barrel revolver, was located in a creek bed near the residence. Ontiveros has been charged with Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon, Serious Bodily Injury and is being held in the Wichita County Jail on a $750,000 bond. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
21 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Virginia honors Virginia Beach firefighter who lost his life to cancer
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) — For years, firefighter Matthew Gallina was exposed to the toxins from fires, both small and large, that put him at risk for a host of rare and deadly cancers. First responders from across the region rushed to the Mayfair Mews Apartment complex in Virginia Beach on April 6, 2012, when a fighter jet slammed into the buildings. The fire was dubbed the Good Friday miracle; no one died. 'Good Friday Miracle': F-18 jet crash into Virginia Beach apartment turns 10 Since Gallina was part of the arson squad, he wasn't assigned to the scene but had to dig through the scene after the incident. 'So if there is an arson, investigation, then my Matt would go out and dig through that scene, and there's a multitude of cancer causing agents,' Gallina's wife Michelle Gallina said. Michelle also said her husband shared space with gear that was contaminated at Mayflower Mews. 'He did not go to the Good Friday plane crash,' Michelle said. 'His, the gear from the Good Friday plane crash was stored at his station, so that's, that's one part of, of the situation was, all of the turnout gear, the equipment that came back to his station for decon, but, you know, there is there's information that, the turnout gear itself, has cancer causing, material.' In June of 2023, Gallina, who had no symptoms, tested for a wide variety of cancers. The test came back positive for stage four esophageal cancer — Gallina died just 14 months later. Funeral services were held at Norfolk's Harbor Park. 10 On Your Side's Regina Mobley asked Michelle what her reaction would be if one of her three children wanted to be a firefighter. 'That's a hard question. And, I don't know,' Michelle said. 'I'm hoping that, you know, the camaraderie of the fire department is is so amazing, and it's, it brings you in. The support that I've gotten from the fire department, from the union, from friends and family, has been overwhelming. On Saturday, Virginia will honor Matt Gallina and 11 other first responders who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to the commonwealth. The event takes place at noon at the Richmond International Raceway Complex. If you can't make it to Richmond, the event will be streamed live at the link here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
21 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Two men charged in connection with Kansas City burglary ring
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Jackson County Prosecutor's Office announced Friday that it has filed felony charges against two men for their alleged involvement in an organized burglary ring. The prosecutor's office said the organized ring is responsible for multiple burglaries across the Kansas City metro. Download WDAF+ for Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV Idonnas J. Gavrilys, 25, is charged with two counts of second-degree burglary, four counts of first-degree burglary and four counts of armed criminal action. Dante K. Draper, 27, faces 17 counts of second-degree burglary, two counts of first-degree burglary, two counts of armed criminal action and two counts of stealing. Investigators believe there are at least six suspects part of the organized burglary ring. Both Gavrilys and Draper are being held without bond in the county jail. The investigation is ongoing. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
