Lynx effect 'kills 12-year-old boy'

A 12-year-old boy collapsed and later died after using too much deodorant. Daniel Hurley was proud of his appearance and was lavish with his use of deodorants and gels, said his father, who had desperately tried to revive him.

Derby Coroner's Court heard that Daniel's overuse of Lynx Vice in the confined space of the bathroom of his family's home caused his heart to fail. The inquest heard his exposure to solvents in the deodorant had led to his cardiac arrhythmia. He died in hospital five days later.

His father, Robert, told the inquest: "He was always putting gel on his hair and spraying deodorant and it was quite common for him to spray his clothing as well. I pulled him out onto the floor and started CPR," he said. "I checked for his heart rate but he was not breathing."


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Mum Lynsey called for an ambulance which took him from their home in Butt Street, Sandiacre, to the Queen's Medical Centre. He was taken to intensive care but died five days later, on January 12 this year.

A post-mortem examination confirmed he died of a cardiac arrhythmia, or abnormal heart rhythms, brought on by exposure to solvents in the can. Giving evidence at the inquest, consultant pathologist Dr Andrew Hitchcock said there was no evidence of solvent abuse.

Derby and South Derbyshire coroner, Dr Robert Hunter, gave the cause of death as a "cardiac arrhythmia, exacerbated by exposure to solvents". He said he was satisfied that Unilever, the manufacturers of the Lynx brand of deodorant used by Daniel, gave enough warning on spray cans that excessive amounts were not to be used in confined spaces. Dr Hunter recorded a verdict of accidental death.