Girl died masking cigarette smell

Helen was trying to cover up her smoking, her family say

An investigation has been launched into the death of a teenage girl who, her family say, died after using a household aerosol in an enclosed space.

The family of Helen Coffey, 14, said she collapsed after spraying her clothes in the bathroom of her Cardiff home. She died a week later.

Her family said that she was trying to hide the smell of cigarette smoke.

The firm which makes the spray, a fabric deodorant, said it was cooperating fully with the coroner.

Cardiff coroner Dr Lawrence Addicott has opened and adjourned an inquest into the teenager's death last month.

Helen never regained consciousness after collapsing in a choking fit at home in Rumney, Cardiff.

She was on a life support machine at the University Hospital of Wales until she died.

Her family said they had been told Helen suffered bleeding in her throat.

Helen's mother, Agnes, said shortly after her daughter's death that she had begged her daughter to quit smoking.

She said: "She had a rebellious streak, just like all teenagers. That's why she used to smoke. I begged her not to, but she carried on doing it in secret.

Coughing fit

"Now of course I wish I'd let her puff away in front of me. At least she would still be alive.

"She was a happy out-going girl. She did the same as any other young girl. She went down to the pictures, she helped out whenever you asked her to do anything. She was good natured.

"I don't think we'll ever get over this. I think this is a dream and going to wake up. I wouldn't like to see anyone to go through what I'm going through."

Her family said that the 14-year-old had tried to hide the smell of cigarette smoke on her clothes and her hands by spraying them with the fabric deodorant.

They claim Helen's coughing fit and collapse began after she used the concentrated spray, which is not meant to be used on the body.

'Wider investigation'

Manufacturers of Neutradol Deofab, MS George have confirmed that the Cardiff coroner's office contacted the company to request information about the product on 25 April.

But a spokeswoman said that this was as part of a wider investigation of a number of household products.

She said: "As an unexplained death the coroner's standard procedures require that all substances and products found in the victim's home and in the vicinity of the death are tested.

"Neutradol Deofab is manufactured in the UK and complies with the most rigorous UK/EU quality and safety standards.

"It has been sold in this country since 1999 and there have been no incidents involving the product.

"Like all our products it is clearly labelled as to usage and is entirely safe when used as directed."