Man died after inhaling helium, inquest hears

A MAN found lifeless in his bedroom with a plastic bag around his head died of asphyxiation after inhaling helium, a gas commonly used for blowing up balloons.

Originally from Hong Kong, Yan Fai Lam, 40, of Corn Exchange Building, Poolbeg Street, Dublin 2, was found unresponsive by a friend and flatmate Declan Kearney on July 1, 2010, an inquest heard yesterday.

There was a plastic bag around his neck and a hose in the bag was attached to a helium cylinder.

Mr Lam, who held a master’s degree in civil engineering from Trinity College Dublin, had been dead for several days.

Mr Kearney who was a friend of Mr Lam’s from university, called the emergency services.

A postmortem exam by the deputy state pathologist Dr Michael Curtis found Mr Lam died from asphyxia by use of a plastic bag and helium, which is a colourless, odourless and tasteless gas.

Giving evidence at an inquest at the Dublin City Coroner’s Court Dr Curtis said helium gas is very light and displaces oxygen.

It also flushes out carbon dioxide, which produces the drive to breathe, he said.

The deputy state pathologist said unconsciousness was probably nearly immediate and death very rapid.

There were no evidence of marks or injuries and no indications of trauma or violence.

A specialist in analytical chemistry, Kevin Dynes, who analysed the contents of the cylinder following the death, said the helium cylinder was one used for blowing up balloons.

A Garda investigation concluded there were no suspicious circumstances.