Suicide by helium inhalation has become increasingly common in the last few decades in Europe and the US because it produces a quick and painless death. Inhaled-gas suicides can easily be assessed …

Jan 31, 2025 · When inhaled, helium displaces oxygen in the lungs and causes low blood oxygen, known as hypoxia, which can cause damage and ultimately death.

Helium itself is not toxic, meaning it does not chemically harm the body. The danger arises from its ability to displace oxygen in the lungs, leading to asphyxiation.

1 day ago · The agency classified her death as a suicide, with "asphyxia due to oxygen displacement by helium" as the cause of death. Chron.com was the first to report the cause of death.

Nov 1, 2020 · In cases of incompetent use of equipment to commit suicide with helium, death may occur not so much because of suffocation but because of a pressure injury of the respiratory tract.

3 days ago · The news of Rice University sophomore soccer player Claire Tracy's death on Sunday has rocked the local campus and the college sports community.

Jun 27, 2025 · The study investigates cases of helium suicide, which have risen in Europe and the US due to their perceived rapidity and lack of pain. Traditional toxicology overlooks helium due to its …

May 7, 2019 · Exposure to helium does not lead to poisoning; instead, death is caused by asphyxia. Deaths due to helium asphyxiation are still a problem for modern forensic toxicology. Most current …

Helium inhalation as a method of suicide is a rare but potentially lethal practice. Helium, an inert gas, displaces oxygen in the lungs, leading to asphyxiation without the usual signs of struggle or trauma.

2 days ago · A CAUSE of death has been confirmed for Rice soccer star Claire Tracy. The sophomore student was found dead in her off-campus housing on Sunday. According to Houston-area medical …