A man claims inhaling hundreds of laughing gas balloons weekly has left him with ‘dinosaur hands’.
Connor Wilton, 27, now lives with permanent disabilities, relying on a wheelchair and crutches.
He began inhaling nitrous oxide, commonly known as laughing gas, at 18. Soon, he was using 480 balloons every weekend.
In November 2022, Connor’s father Jamie found him collapsed on the floor in Shirebrook, Derbyshire, suffering from severe nerve damage.
Doctors revealed that the drug deprived his body of oxygen and vitamin B12, essential for nerve and blood cell health, nearly paralysing him.
Connor spent three months in the hospital and another four in a neuro-rehabilitation unit, with limited muscle control, causing his hands to bend like ‘dinosaur hands’.
A mental health rehabilitation worker, Connor needed to wear a nappy for five months.
His laughing gas habit began during a holiday with friends at 18.
‘I was abusing it for years. Not badly. I did it socially at weekends and on trips to places like Kavos,’ he said.
By October 2022, Connor was using it every weekend. He began feeling sick constantly but didn’t link it to nitrous oxide. He started experiencing tingling in his feet. One day, his father found him collapsed after using laughing gas.
‘I couldn’t feel my legs properly. I couldn’t urinate for six days. My nerves and muscles had failed in my lower body.’
Nitrous oxide has long been used in medical settings as a fast-acting anaesthetic. It is also called whippets due to its use as a propellant in whipped cream.
Inhaling the drug can cause relaxation and euphoria or paranoia and anxiety for a short time, according to the anti-drug advisory service Talk to Frank.
However, high concentrations can quickly reduce blood oxygen levels, leading to unconsciousness and seizures.
Long-term effects include memory loss, B12 depletion, limb spasms, numbness in hands and feet, and a weakened immune system.
Connor experienced these effects first-hand. ‘It was absolutely horrible. I couldn’t control my muscles. My hands bent like little dinosaur hands. I couldn’t pick up my phone properly,’ he said.
His bowels failed, leading to incontinence. He was psychotic for ten days.
‘I had a catheter and wore a nappy for five months. I was in 24/7 bed care. I spent two months hoisted. My hands slowly recovered.’
Connor now receives vitamin B12 injections every three months and still requires a wheelchair and crutches. His legs often spasm or seize up.
‘I’ve damaged so many nerves, some will never repair,’ Connor said. ‘I will never stand up straight. I have 35-degree drop feet.’
His bowels remain dysfunctional, causing anxiety about public accidents.
Connor shares his story on Facebook to warn young people about the risks of abusing laughing gas.
‘Stay off balloons, kids. Never thought this could happen,’ he wrote in a post, adding, ‘It ruined my life’.
The UK banned the casual party drug last year, with dealers facing up to 14 years in jail.
Laughing gas was the fourth most used drug in the UK in 2015, according to the Global Drug Survey 2015.
What Other Media Are Saying
- Ladbible reports on Connor Wilton, a 27-year-old man from Derbyshire, UK, who was left permanently disabled after consuming up to 500 laughing gas balloons weekly, resulting in severe nerve damage, vitamin B12 deficiency, and paralysis. (read more)
- The Mirror reports that Connor Wilton, a 27-year-old, has had his life ruined by his addiction to laughing gas, which left him paralysed and reliant on a wheelchair, taking 30 tablets daily. (read more)
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some common questions asked about this news
What are ‘dinosaur hands’ caused by laughing gas?
Severe nerve damage from nitrous oxide can cause muscle control loss, making hands bend unnaturally.
How did Connor Wilton become disabled?
Inhaling hundreds of laughing gas balloons weekly caused severe nerve damage, leaving him wheelchair-dependent.
What are the long-term effects of inhaling laughing gas?
Long-term effects include memory loss, B12 depletion, muscle spasms, numbness, and a weakened immune system.
Why does nitrous oxide cause nerve damage?
Nitrous oxide starves the body of oxygen and vitamin B12, essential for nerve and blood cell health.
Is laughing gas banned in the UK?
Yes, the casual party drug was banned, and dealers can face up to 14 years in jail.