The mother of an 8-year-old boy who died during what should have been a joyful birthday celebration is pleading with other parents to steer clear of one popular party decoration — a helium balloon — after it led to her son’s sudden and heartbreaking death. What was meant to mark a milestone became a symbol of unimaginable grief, and now this mother is sharing her story to make sure no other family suffers the same fate.

Little Joshua Dunbar had just turned eight. He was a bubbly, energetic child with a wide imagination and a smile that could light up any room. His birthday celebration was filled with laughter, cake, party games, and colorful decorations — just like any other kid’s party. Among those decorations was a large, shiny, helium-filled balloon shaped like the number eight. That balloon, meant to celebrate his life, ultimately took it away.

Later that same day, on April 27, 2024, Joshua was found alone and unresponsive in his bedroom. The balloon was found over his head. Despite his family’s frantic attempts to revive him and the immediate arrival of paramedics, nothing could be done. Joshua’s heart had stopped, and he was gone.

“It was absolutely traumatic,” said his mother, Carly, in an emotional interview with the Mirror. “You can’t erase it from your mind. You close your eyes, and that’s all you see. That’s all you hear — the screams, the sirens, the voice of the doctor telling you, ‘We’re really sorry. It was time for him.’” Carly described holding Joshua’s hand in those final moments with her husband by her side. “Me and his dad each held one of his hands. I said to him, ‘Son, if your angel wings are there and you’re ready to take them, take them. Mummy and Daddy are with you. We’re right here. If you’re ready to go, just go in peace.’”

Just moments later, Joshua passed away. “It was as if he was waiting for us to give him permission. These are visions I’ll never be able to forget. I carry them with me every single day.”

An official inquest into Joshua’s death revealed the cause: suffocation due to helium inhalation. While helium is not poisonous, it can be deadly when inhaled in large amounts because it replaces oxygen in the lungs. Coroner Andre Rebello explained that when helium displaces oxygen, the body can’t absorb the oxygen it needs to function. In mere minutes, life becomes unsustainable.

“This was one of the most tragic of accidents,” Rebello said in a statement to the Liverpool Echo. “This was a day that started in celebration and ended in heartbreak.” The coroner speculated that Joshua may have either been unaware of the risks or may have been playing around, possibly trying to make his voice sound funny by inhaling the gas — a common but extremely dangerous activity. “We just don’t know,” Rebello added. “Nobody will ever truly know what happened in that moment.”

The death of a child is every parent’s nightmare, and Carly’s grief has been overwhelming. But in the midst of her sorrow, she’s doing something brave — she’s speaking out to prevent other families from facing the same devastation. Just days after losing her son, she took to social media to share her pain and urge other parents to avoid helium balloons altogether.

“There is no cure for a broken heart,” Carly wrote in a Facebook post, as reported by the Daily Mail. “Please trust me when I say — do not buy your children helium balloons. Every day, I hate myself for buying that balloon. I would never want another child or family to go through this hell. Stick with air-filled balloons.”

She stressed that this tragedy wasn’t about placing blame, but about learning and spreading awareness. “Hand on my heart, I would never want another child to lose their life. I don’t want another family to feel what we feel every single day.”

Carly is determined to use her son’s story to make a difference. She hopes that his death won’t be in vain and that her message will save lives. “It’s just torture, and it doesn’t get easier. If even one, two, or three people stop and think, take on board what I’m saying, and don’t buy a helium balloon, then that’s one child’s life saved. And that’s what this is all about — preventing it from happening to another child.”

She believes the solution is simple: choose safer alternatives. “Just buy the air-filled ones. They look just as nice. They still float. You can still decorate your home and bring joy to your child — without risking their life.”

What happened to Joshua was a heartbreaking reminder that some dangers lurk where we least expect them. As parents, we often go the extra mile to make our children’s celebrations memorable, never imagining that a common decoration could hold such deadly potential. But Carly’s story is a wake-up call to every parent, caregiver, teacher, and event planner. Sometimes, even the most innocent-looking things can carry risks.

So next time you’re planning a party, stop and think. Helium balloons might be festive and fun, but they’re not worth the risk if it means putting a child’s life in danger. Air-filled balloons offer the same joy, the same celebration — without the hidden danger.

Joshua Dunbar should be alive today — running, laughing, and dreaming big dreams. Instead, his parents are left with memories, grief, and a mission to ensure his story saves lives. Let’s honor Joshua by taking this message seriously and doing everything we can to protect the children around us. One small choice — choosing air instead of helium — could be the difference between a celebration and a tragedy.