A young boy who loved to play and had a cheeky grin died from an asthma attack after playing on a trampoline with his brother in Portsmouth last year.
Warren Dowling, a 10-year-old who was one of seven siblings, was enjoying time with his brother Cameron in their backyard when he suddenly turned blue and stopped breathing. His father tried to resuscitate him with CPR, but it was too late.
His mother, Belinda, recalled that Warren had been fine all day before the tragic event. The family was left in shock, especially his younger brother, Cameron, who couldn’t understand why his big brother didn’t come back to play with him on the trampoline.
“Asthma was usually manageable for Warren, but once or twice a year, he’d have a severe asthma attack that required hospital treatment. It was terrifying,” said Belinda. “That evening, after he’d been fine at school and played on the trampoline, he asked for his inhaler. When it didn’t work, he began to panic. I called for an ambulance, but before it could arrive, he turned blue and stopped breathing.”
His dad tried CPR, and paramedics quickly got him to the hospital, but nothing could be done to save him. Warren’s cheerful spirit and cheeky smile left a lasting impression on everyone he met. His siblings are coping in different ways, but Cameron keeps asking his mother why Warren never returned to play with him, even though he promised he would.
The family’s loss has prompted calls for more awareness about the seriousness of asthma. Asthma and Lung UK, a leading charity, stated that “shockingly little” had changed in asthma care since a landmark report ten years ago recommended measures to prevent unnecessary deaths.
Belinda Dowling, Warren’s mother, said, “There’s never been enough awareness about asthma. I want everyone to know how serious it is. I wouldn’t want anyone else to go through what we did. I know Warren would be happy if his story could help others.”
Since the publication of the National Review of Asthma Deaths report a decade ago, over 12,000 people in the UK have died from asthma attacks, according to Asthma and Lung UK. The charity urges a greater focus on improving asthma care and reducing the number of preventable deaths.
