Devastated mum issues warning after baby chokes to death on balloon

Ashleigh Chapman, 19, was going about her daily routine last Thursday, playing with her 11-month-old son Heath and having lunch, when her world turned upside down.

The little boy had just finished his sandwich and was playing in the family’s open-plan kitchen and lounge space when he started to make a strange sound.

After hearing what she thought was a second cough, Ms Chapman, who was in the kitchen finishing off her lunch, rushed over to Heath and found him unconscious on the floor.

He had choked on a mostly-deflated balloon.

“It was just a normal cough at first and I didn’t think anything of it then a few moments later I heard another sound and it wasn’t so much of a cough but a struggling noise and that’s when I quickly ran out to him,” Ms Chapman told news.com.au.

A shaken Ms Chapman, of Mount Warrigal in Sydney’s south, then frantically started checking the boy’s airways and performed CPR, before quickly calling triple-0 and her partner and Heath’s father Jesse McLean.

“Before I called triple-0, I put my fingers in his mouth to see if there was anything in there but I couldn’t feel anything,” she said.

“I just didn’t believe it. My whole world got taken away from me.”

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Ms Chapman said police rescue and paramedics arrived at her house within two minutes of her call.

“There was so much happening – they were running through every door possible – and had the defibrillator on him,” she said.

“Then after about five minutes of trying, they flew him in a helicopter to the hospital.”

An hour later, she was escorted into a small room where she was told the heartbreaking news that her son had not survived.

“I had to tell my partner by myself and had to witness his reaction and also had to tell my family before they got to the hospital to see Heath – which took a huge toll on me,” Ms Chapman said.

An autopsy later revealed a balloon, which was not completely deflated, was lodged in his windpipe.

A heartbroken Ms Chapman said it was an old packet of balloons that she wished she had removed.

“Once I got told it was a balloon I was obviously shocked and blamed myself they were there,” Ms Chapman said. “But in saying that, I know everything is a chocking hazard when you have a baby.”

She is now trying to raise awareness about the dangers of balloons and wants larger warning labels on packets.

“You don’t realise how quickly it can kill,” Ms Chapman said.

Ms Chapman remembered Heath as a “bright and bubbly” baby who made everyone’s day.

She said she loved being his mother and was grateful for all the memories he gave her.

A Go Fund Me has since been set up by a family friend to help the family pay for the funeral.

“We have no words to describe the grief that their family is experiencing right now, and many friends and family have asked for how they can help at this difficult time,” the fundraiser read.

“In the weeks and months ahead, they will miss their child terribly and will be in need of love, compassion, time and understanding. Consideration of making a small contribution can help lift some burden.”

Ms Chapman said she has been inundated with messages from other mothers, thanking her for bringing the dangers of balloons to their attention.

“People don’t really think how dangerous they can be and how quickly it all can happen,” Ms Chapman said again.

She also wanted to express her gratitude to all the generous donors who have helped raise more than $9000.

“I am honestly shocked by the generosity. Heath’s funeral wasn’t something I was thinking about at the time. I’ve kept putting it off,” Ms Chapman said, adding the donations would help immensely with all the funeral expenses.