A teenage girl suffered fatal brain damage after inhaling the contents of an aerosol deodorant, an inquest has heard.
The circumstances of the death of 14-year-old Sarah Mescall, from Cloongowna, Kilnamona, Co Clare, at Children's Health Ireland in Crumlin on 25 September 2023 were heard at a sitting of Dublin District Coroner’s Court yesterday.
The inquest heard the 2nd Year student at Coláiste Muire in Ennis, died from irreversible brain damage five days after she became unwell at her family home.
It was also noted by pathologist Dr Michael McDermott that there is a long association between the inhalation of "volatile substances," such as those containing deodorants, and sudden unexpected deaths.
Sarah's mother, Deirdre Mescall, gave evidence of collecting her daughter off a school bus at 4.45pm on 20 September 2023.
Ms Mescall recalled that Sarah had gone to her bedroom as was normal after she had dinner.
She said her daughter would have been on her phone, but was also preparing ahead of attending 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 bedroom.
The inquest heard that Sarah appeared drunk when she turned around in response to her mother asking her if she was okay.
Ms Mescall recalled: "I said 'Sarah what did you do?’ And she answered: 'Nothing'."
She said she started to panic before her daughter informed her that she had inhaled the contents of an aerosol deodorant.
She told the inquest that she called out to her husband, Joe, for help and that Sarah collapsed as he arrived.
She said there was no response when they threw water on her face and Ms Mescall said she also checked for a pulse but could find none.
Ms Mescall said she started CPR on her daughter while her husband called for an ambulance.
The inquest heard that Sarah was transported by helicopter to University Hospital Limerick and later transferred by ambulance to Children’s Health Ireland at Temple Street in Dublin.
A decision was subsequently taken on 22 September 2023 to transfer her to CHI at Crumlin for specialist cardiac care.
The inquest heard that Sarah had been a fit and healthy teenager who loved camogie.
In reply to questions from coroner Cróna Gallagher, Ms Mescall said no one had come to her afterwards to say that children had been experimenting with such substances.
Her husband gave evidence that his eldest daughter had been in great form earlier that day, but said he knew she was unwell after he prevented her falling to the ground.
"Her colour was not good," he said.
Mr Mescall described how the couple were assisted by two neighbours, Brid Hegarty and Carmel McInerney, both nurses, while they were waiting for emergency services to arrive.
"Sarah got every chance, but it didn’t work out," he said.
Mr Mescall said doctors told them at UHL that Sarah's condition was serious, but he said: "We had hoped she would make some sort of recovery."
The inquest heard doctors at UHL diagnosed Sarah 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 that 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 Sarah to CHI at Crumlin.
While the condition of Sarah's heart improved, the coroner said the brain injury was irreversible.
The inquest heard a post-mortem examination had confirmed that Sarah 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 that 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 that what she was doing was risky as teenagers have a different perception of risk to adults.
Dr Gallagher said it was unknown if it was the first time that Sarah had inhaled such a substance, but there was no evidence it was "an ongoing, regular issue".
She added: "We obviously don’t know what made her do it, other than I suppose all young people experiment."
Offering her condolences to Sarah's parents, Dr Gallagher 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.
She also praised their courage and generosity in deciding to donate their daughter’s organs to help other children.
