Father recounts horror as deodorant inhalation stops 12-year-old's heart; older brother saves him

A terrifying incident unfolded for Tero Moilanen when he received a call from his 14-year-old son's phone, only to hear a paramedic on the other end. The emergency worker informed him that his 12-year-old son was found unresponsive and was being resuscitated.

Moilanen, who was 25 kilometers away on a bike ride, rushed home. Seven minutes later, he received a second call: his son's heart had been restarted, and he was being transported to Meilahti Hospital. The younger boy had been inhaling butane gas from a spray deodorant with friends, a combination that proved too much for his heart, causing ventricular fibrillation and cardiac arrest.

Fortunately, the 14-year-old older brother was present and immediately began CPR. His quick actions were crucial, as the boy's heart had stopped for 13 minutes – the time it took for emergency services to arrive. Moilanen emphasized that his elder son performed the resuscitation correctly and with sufficient force.

After being placed on a ventilator for a day at the hospital, the 12-year-old has since been discharged. While his short-term memory is still affected, doctors do not anticipate any permanent damage. Moilanen noted the excellent psychological and crisis support provided to the family. He also warned about the extreme danger of inhaling butane, calling it far more perilous than consuming alcohol and a potentially fatal act that can cause death on the first try.