Clare teenager died from brain damage after inhaling aerosol deodorant

Inquest heard the autopsy had confirmed girl had died from a lack of oxygen to the brain and damage to her heart muscle from a cardiac arrest due to the inhalation of a deodorant.

A Co Clare teenager suffered fatal brain damage after inhaling the contents of an aerosol deodorant that her mother had bought just hours earlier, an inquest has heard.

The tragic circumstances of the death of Sarah Mescall, 14, from Cloongowna, Kilnamona, Co Clare, at Children’s Health Ireland in Crumlin on September 25, 2023, were heard at a sitting of Dublin District Coroner’s Court.

The inquest heard the second-year student died from irreversible brain damage five days after she became unwell at her family home after sniffing the contents of the deodorant.

It was also noted by the pathologist who conducted the autopsy on the teenager’s body, Michael McDermott, that there is a long association between the inhalation of “volatile substances,” such as those containing deodorants, and sudden unexpected deaths.

At the time of Sarah’s death, it was reported gardaí were investigating if the fatal incident was linked to a viral challenge on social media.

However, no reference was made at the inquest to any possible role played by online content in Sarah’s death.

Deirdre Mescall gave evidence of collecting her daughter at 4.45pm on September 20, 2023.

She recalled Sarah had gone to her bedroom as was normal after she had dinner of a pizza.

She said her daughter would have been on her phone but was also preparing for going to the National Ploughing Championships the following day.

Ms Mescall said she went upstairs at 5.45pm and saw Sarah swaying by the window in her own bedroom.

The inquest heard Sarah appeared drunk when she turned around.

Ms Mescall recalled: “I said ‘Sarah what did you do?’ And she answered: ‘Nothing.’” The witness said she started to panic before her daughter informed her she had inhaled the contents of a female aerosol deodorant that Ms Mescall said she had bought in a supermarket earlier that day.

Ms Mescall said Sarah collapsed onto her husband, Joe, when he arrived in the bedroom after she had called out to him for help.

She said there was no response when they threw water on their daughter’s face and Ms Mescall said she also checked for a pulse but could find none.

The inquest heard Sarah was transported by helicopter to University Hospital Limerick and later transferred to Children’s Health Ireland at Temple Street in Dublin by ambulance.

A decision was subsequently taken on September 22, 2023, to transfer her to CHI at Crumlin for specialist cardiac care.

Ms Mescall said she only later discovered her younger daughter, aged seven at the time, had seen Sarah put her head under her school jumper that evening and inhale the deodorant.

The inquest heard Sarah had been a fit and healthy teenager who loved camogie.

In reply to questions from coroner Cróna Gallagher, Ms Mescall, who wept openly during the proceedings, said no one had come to her afterwards to say that kids had been experimenting with such substances.

Her husband gave evidence he knew Sarah was unwell after he prevented her falling to the ground.

Mr Mescall said doctors told them at UHL that Sarah’s condition was serious but added: “We had hoped she would make some sort of recovery.”

The inquest heard doctors at UHL had diagnosed the patient as having suffered a lack of oxygen to the brain before a decision was taken to transfer her to hospital in Dublin.

A report from a consultant in emergency medicine, Suzanne Crowe, recorded Sarah had suffered a devastating hypoxic brain injury which subsequently led to brain stem death.

Dr Crowe said inhaling substances could also cause heart problems, which is why a decision was taken to transfer the patient to CHI at Crumlin.

While the condition of Sarah’s heart improved, the coroner observed the brain injury she had suffered was irreversible.

The inquest heard the autopsy had confirmed she had died from a lack of oxygen to the brain and damage to her heart muscle from a cardiac arrest due to the inhalation of a deodorant.

Recording a verdict of death by misadventure, Dr Gallagher explained it was to reflect she died as the result of an unintended consequence of an action that had a risk factor.

The coroner acknowledged that Sarah may not have known what she was doing was risky as teenagers have a different perception of risk to adults.

Offering her condolence to Sarah’s parents, the coroner said she could not imagine how difficult the days were while their daughter was sick, particularly as they had some hope at the beginning that she would recover.

Dr Gallagher also praised their courage and generosity in deciding to donate their daughter’s organs to help other children.