'It's not worth it' - grieving sibling urges teens to stay away from solvents after brother dies

Louise Walsh

A grieving brother has urged teenagers to stay away from inhaling deodorant fumes, warning "It's not worth it, not even for one day."

Andrew Maguire's plea comes just two months after the death of his older brother Daniel shattered his family's hearts.

Daniel, who was from Huntstown, Dublin 15, was just 14 when he died after inhaling deodorant fumes, and his family are highlighting his death in an effort to stop another teenager from dying.

Since his death on September 27th, parents Dermot and Yvonne have learned of other young deaths from inhaling substance gases and are lobbying the Minister for Health and the Minister of Education for more awareness and training on solvent abuse.

On the night of his passing, Dermot had shouted up to his son for the front door key, receiving a reply of "no problem".

But when no key was thrown down, Dermot went upstairs thirty seconds later to find Daniel collapsed on his bedroom floor. The panicked dad and older son Adam began CPR until the emergency services arrived, but he died some hours later in hospital.

As the family try to raise awareness through education in schools, Daniel's younger brother Andrew is asking his peers to think before trying the trend that is especially hitting kids between 11 to 14 years of age.

With just 17 months between them, the 13-year-old recalled how, like all siblings, they fought but were very close.

"He was a great brother. If I was ever sad, he'd help me through it," he said.

"I looked up to him a lot and wanted to be as good as he was at the gym and with sport."

Daniel played football with Clonee Utd, practised MMA fighting and went to the gym regularly, which Andrew now plans to do. They also supported Liverpool, but Daniel recently turned his attention to Celtic.

Andrew had heard of people inhaling gases from aerosols but never dreamed it would take his brother away from him.

"I've heard of people who have done it in the past. I did not expect Daniel to do it, especially because he was so sporty."

Recalling the night his brother died, Andrew remembered how he hoped his brother would recover.

"I was in my room and heard a scream, and when I got to Daniel's room, I saw him passed out on the ground, and I could smell the deodorant. I waited with my mam while my dad and brother Adam worked on him (CPR) until the ambulance came.

"The paramedics said he was very sick. Then we were told he had stopped breathing but the medics were keeping him alive. But I still had hope because if anyone could do it (recover), it would be Daniel, 100 per cent.

"Daniel took it once and it killed him. I just want to say to teenagers that it's not worth it. It's not worth putting your little brother or your family through what we are going through, just for that little buzz that lasts no time.

"Death waits for no-one."

The heartbroken sibling says he is coping each day by going out and surrounding himself with friends, and doesn't mind anyone asking about Daniel because he loves talking about his brother.

"Christmas is going to be tough. Every day is tough.

"Nothing can replace your life because of a can of deodorant. Nothing can replace the life we all once had. That has changed forever.

"If he was here now, I'd scream at him. And then I'd say that I miss him so much and that I'm so proud of him and how he was doing at everything. And I'd tell him I love him and all."

The family are now trying to stop others from facing the same heartache by raising awareness of the dangers that simple, everyday aerosols can have on young people trying to get a high.

They have been in contact with both the Education and Health Ministers in an effort to put the dangers on the curriculum, alongside other drugs and solvents.

Daniel's father Dermot said the family are open to talking to schools or any groups in an effort to raise awareness of deodorant abuse.

"From the last time I talked to Daniel to the time I saw him passed out was 30 seconds. That's all it took," he said.

"We had heard of a young girl dying in the same way as Daniel, and we had sat down and talked to him about it. But we didn't know how widespread the problem was until we got messages from all over the world, but especially all over Ireland, after his passing."

Dermot and Yvonne are hoping the Government will implement measures such as banning deodorants in schools and for sale to U18s and forcing manufacturers to make existing warnings on cans bigger.

They also want teachers to be trained better in aerosol misuse and for it to be included in student handbooks in CPSE classes.

"Teenagers think they are invincible, and they are not. Our children are dying because of this and things need to change.

"Our lives have been shattered. You don't think it will come to your own door - but it does.

"Every parent knows their own child and needs to sit down with them and show them a picture of Daniel, show them lives have been devastated - whatever it takes to get the message home."