6-Year-Old Boy Dies in Rare Balloon Suffocation Accident

Earlier this week, officials released a report about a young boy who died tragically in Wabash County. His aunt has since spoken out about his passing, and his family launched a GoFundMe campaign.

On Wednesday, June 4, the Wabash County Coroner's Office reported that coroner Shaun Keepes responded to a residence in Mount Carmel the previous Thursday, May 29, 2025.

The response concerned the accidental death of a six-year-old boy, later identified as Gunner Matthew Hyatt. An autopsy was performed in Springfield, Illinois, and preliminary findings determined that his "cause of death is consistent with suffocation due to a Mylar-helium filled balloon," per the report.

However, additional testing and toxicology are still pending to determine the final cause. Keepes then issued a warning in the report "about the unrecognized potential dangers associated with large child size Mylar balloons."

"While often seen as harmless decorations, these balloons can pose serious risks—particularly to young children—including the rare but devastating possibility of suffocation and/or helium toxicity," the report stated.

According to his obituary, Gunnar had just completed kindergarten when he passed away. In an emotional Facebook post, his aunt described him as "an absolute joy and such a thrilling child to be around."

"There are no words to express how deeply we are feeling his absence," she wrote. His family started a GoFundMe with the goal of raising $22,000 to help with expenses. As of this writing, they have collected $20,031.