Laughing gas kills photographer's son

A grieving family today issued a warning over the dangers of laughing gas after a promising arts student died from inhaling the legal high.

Joe Benett, 17, from Hampstead, fell into a four-week coma and eventually suffered a cardiac arrest after using nitrous oxide at a friend’s party.

Today, his sister Camille, 27, warned teenagers to stay away from the drug, which was once used by Prince Harry and is widely available at music festivals, bars and nightclubs. Inhaled from balloons, it gives a brief high and can be lethal combined with alcohol.

She said: “I think having experienced how much this hurts, people should think about whether they are putting themselves in danger. You do need to think about what you are doing, not just for yourself but for the sake of the people who love you.”

University College School pupil Joe was at a friend’s house when he collapsed after inhaling the gas on August 31. His father, celebrity photographer David, mother Rosann and Camille stayed by his bedside. His sister said: “He just never woke up. When he stopped breathing, my dad and I were holding his hand.”