27/09/2026
Today marks the first anniversary of Maise and Elsie’s cousin in Heaven…. This is a message from the family…
At approximately 10:30pm on 26th September last year, one moment changed hundreds of lives forever.
My uncle Dermot called up the stairs to his 14-year-old son, Dan, asking for the front door key. Dan replied that he would throw it down.
Around 30 seconds passed, but there was no sign of Dan.
Dermot called again. This time, there was no response.
He went upstairs to Dan’s room, where he found his son unresponsive. A can of deodorant was in the room, and the smell was evident.
Despite the best efforts of Dermot, Dan’s older brother Adam, Dublin Fire Brigade and the A&E staff at Temple Street, Dan was pronounced dead in the early hours of 27th September 2025.
Dan was just 14.
We were all teenagers once. We all thought we were invincible. We all did silly things, took risks and made mistakes.
But sometimes, one mistake can have consequences none of us could ever imagine.
This post isn't intended to upset or frighten anyone. It is about awareness. It is about having a conversation that could potentially save a life.
Please, please, please talk to your young people about the dangers of aerosol abuse, including what is sometimes referred to as “chroming”.
They may believe it won't happen to them. They may think something so easily available in the home couldn't possibly be dangerous.
But Dan didn't use laughing gas or some unusual substance. It was a can of deodorant — something many of us have sitting in our homes every day.
That's why this conversation matters.
And to teenagers: if you or someone you know is using aerosols in this way, please ask for help. Tell a parent, guardian, teacher, youth worker, doctor or another trusted adult.
If it's your friend, please tell someone. You might worry about getting them into trouble or think they'll be angry with you.
But as Dermot said in his latest video:
“It’s better to lose a friend than to bury one.”
If sharing Dan's story makes even one young person stop and think, “What if I'm the one?”, then sharing it will have been worth it.
Please have the conversation.
It could save a life.
💙
