Oliver Luke Gorman · Prevention of Future Deaths report

On 06.05.25 an investigation commenced into the death of Oliver Luke Gorman who died on 05.05.25 in his bedroom at his home. Oliver was 12 years of age, having been born on 08.11.12.

The inquest concluded on 23.10.25.

The medical cause of death was
1a) Inhalation of butane gas

How, when and where
At about 17.54hrs on 5 May 2025 Oliver Luke Gorman was found deceased in his bed at home, ████████ having recreationally inhaled ████████ spray.

Conclusion
Misadventure

On the afternoon of 05.05.25 Oliver and his family returned home from a Bank Holiday weekend in Wales. Oliver said he was tired and went up to his bedroom. When his mother called for him just before 6.00pm he didn’t respond. Thinking that Oliver had his headphones on she went up to the bedroom. ████████
He was completely unresponsive. Mum called 999 and carried out CPR until paramedics arrived and took over. No cardiac rhythm was ever achieved. Oliver was transferred to Tameside General Hospital where CPR was stopped and death confirmed.

An empty can of ████████ fell from Oliver’s bed when his mother pulled the duvet back. Other empty cans were found in the room by Greater Manchester Police on their attendance and scene assessment.

Just prior to going away for the weekend Mum had approached Oliver’s school to report some concerns about bullying. Following Oliver’s death, the school and other agencies tried to investigate those concerns but Oliver’s tragic death so affected his friends and fellow pupils making the investigation difficult and nothing substantive was found. In any event, on the evidence if there was an element of bullying in Oliver’s life it did not play a part in his death.

I heard evidence from Oliver’s school that the recreational craze of ████████ spray ████████ to experience the buzz from the propellant's butane and/or propane is widespread on social media, including and particularly Tiktok. ████████

The school’s Summer 25 Safeguarding Letter added ████████ its list of Harmful Trends and Challenges which already included,
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It was not possible to access Oliver’s mobile phone to determine whether Oliver had indulged in ████████ directly from Tiktok. The evidence was that it was however a challenge or practice known to be disseminated through Tiktok.

1. No Age Restriction

The age restriction on the purchase of butane for refilling cigarette lighters (and the like) is 18 years of age. I understand the legislation is primarily aimed at preventing the misuse of butane.
The age restriction on the purchase of aerosol paints is 16 years of age. I understand that the legislation is aimed at reducing incidents of graffiti and preventing the misuse of butane/propane - ████████ as above.

There is no age restriction on the purchase of aerosol ████████ or other products containing butane/propane as the propellant, ████████ yet their misuse is as equally dangerous.

An age restriction on such products would also likely heighten parental awareness of the dangers of such products.

2. Adequacy of Warning
The warnings on the cans of ████████ of the danger/risk of inhaling the aerosol spray were, in my opinion, inadequate in terms of visibility and wording.

The warning was set in an area outline of about 12mm x 12mm, in black or white writing depending on the background colour of the can. It was lost amongst all the other information and writing on the can. At least the ‘inflammable content’ warning was outlined in red.

The warning stated “SOLVENT ABUSE CAN KILL INSTANTLY”.

Many people (both adults and children) may not equate inhalation of aerosol spray with solvent abuse. Thus, the warning does not appear to properly describe the risks of using/misusing using the product. That risk being inhalation of this aerosol spray can cause instant death.

3. Social media content and access
The posting of challenges such as those listed above, and no doubt others, on social media platforms will continue to take the lives of young, impressionable and/or vulnerable children/teenagers unless the platform providers take responsibility fortheir content and/or toxic algorithms either voluntarily or through Government action. The former seems unlikely.

Further the age restriction of 13 years for most social media platforms appears to have been determined in relation to data protection laws rather than of the nature of the content to which they will be exposed, again via any toxic algorithms or any searches they may make.