Mystery as man dies from laughing gas
Jan 24 2007
By Ross Mccarthy, Birmingham Mail
THE managing director of a ticket sales company died after sniffing laughing gas in what may have been an experiment that went wrong, an inquest heard.
Daniel Watts, aged 23, was discovered at is home in Edwards Road, Erdington, on September 8 last year near to a large cylinder of nitrous oxide, which is also inhaled by club-bers for its euphoric effect.
Birmingham Deputy Coroner Christopher Ball said it was the first case he had come across of someone dying in such circumstances.
He said the evidence indicated that Mr Watts had had the canister delivered four days previously after ordering it through the internet.
“It may have been an experiment that went wrong,” he said. “It may have been the first time he had tried it. After the initial euphoria too much of the gas would anaesthetise him and asphyxia would ensue.”
He said it was possible that Mr Watts had tried the gas before, using a balloon at a nightclub.
Although Mr Watts was having financial problems in his business, there was no indication that anyone was putting any pressure on him to pay any debts and, while what he did involved a degree of “premeditated thought,” it did not necessarily mean he intended to kill himself.
A friend, Paul McNeil, said Mr Watts business involved designing flyers to help advertise night clubs.
He said after Mr Watts failed to respond to calls, he forced his way into his home and found him lying on the living room floor where there was also a large plastic bag, a pillow and a pipe leading to a 5ft tall cylinder under the stairs.
Pathologist Dr Gerald Langman said Mr Watts had died from asphyxia due to inhalation of nitrous oxide.
Mr Ball, who described the case as “perplexing”, recorded a narrative verdict saying: “Daniel Watts died from the effects of inhaling nitrous oxide, although there was no cogent evidence that he intended to take his own life. On balance he had not intended the eventual outcome.”
