Science-obsessed Middlesbrough schoolboy, 13, collapsed and died after a ‘chemical burning experiment’ at his family home
Fit and healthy Mason Douglass had been burning chemicals at home before he went into anaphylactic shock
A 13-YEAR-OLD schoolboy collapsed and died in front of his mum after a 'chemical burning experiment' at home, an inquest heard today.
Fit and healthy schoolboy Mason Douglass, 13, collapsed in the conservatory of the family home in Acklam, Middlesbrough, seven months ago.
He had been burning chemicals he allegedly stole from school before he went into anaphylactic shock.
Neighbours claimed he ran out to the garden while shouting for help during the incident, before witnesses saw him lying face down and naked on the grass.
One neighbour said he saw the teenager then get up off the floor and ‘wobble’ back into the home, where he collapsed and died.
An inquest into his death has now concluded that the most likely cause of his death was chemical poisoning due to the toxic fumes he inhaled during the experiment.
However, the coroner was unable pinpoint the exact cause of death due to inconclusive tests.
A post mortem and toxicology test confirmed Mason died of anaphylactic shock - an allergic reaction. It is thought to have been triggered by an event within the 90 minutes before his collapse.
But all medical experts investigating his death confirmed there was no way of establishing of the exact type of allergen which caused the catastrophic reaction.
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Mason collapsed at his home in Acklam after school on October 5 last year.
His mother Suzzanne Douglass returned from work later that evening and found her 13-year-old son slumped on the sofa in the conservatory. She started CPR but he was unresponsive.
Despite the desperate attempts by paramedics and hospital to save Mason’s life, the youngster was pronounced dead at James Cook University Hospital at 6.37pm.
Suzzanne recalled a smell of burning in the house when she first arrived home and later noted Mason’s school uniform also smelled of smoke.
She found a plastic Ferrero Rocher box containing a scorched silica gel packet and it is thought Mason may have burned the plastics and inhaled the fumes.
Investigating officer Detective Matt Hollingsworth, of Cleveland Police, said: “I can’t say with a good degree of certainty what he has come into contact with.
“It may have been butane, the plastic from the box or the silica balls but at this stage we will never know.”
The inquest heard Mason often drank energy drinks but tests ruled out any connection to his death. There were no traces of drugs or alcohol in the boy’s body.
Mason’s behaviour in the garden suggested an “altered mental state”, the inquest heard.
A video recording was found on the schoolboy’s phone from a day or so earlier, sitting on the sofa playing with a lighter and looking at the flames.
Suzzanne previously said she believed her son may have brought home a chemical from school and used it in an experiment in the bathroom.
The inquest heard her concerns were investigated by police.
Detective Sergeant Hollingsworth took a statement from the head of science at Acklam Grange School and spoke to Mason’s fellow pupils.
He was told Mason had burned copper sulphate in a lesson four days earlier. But only one piece was given to each group - which was burned - and there were “no chances” for the pupils to steal chemicals, he was told.
Concluding the inquest, Assistant Teesside Coroner Joanne Wharton recorded a verdict of “misadventure”.
She said evidence presented to the inquest suggested Mason “ingested or inhaled something which has reacted adversely with his body”.
Speaking afterwards, his mother said she felt there were “indiscrepancies” and said she is considering taking legal action over certain allegations relating to the investigation.
But she thanked all Mason’s friends for their ongoing support and praised paramedics and James Cook University Hospital staff for their “incredible” efforts to try to save her son.
“At first I blamed myself but I know even if I had been there he would have burned it, but out of my
sight,” she said.
“It was just curiosity.”