Boy, 16, rushed to hospital and 'almost died' after inhaling laughing gas at Parklife

A mum claims her teenage son 'almost died' after inhaling laughing gas at Parklife festival. Alex Littler, 16, was rushed to hospital last weekend with a burst lung after complaining of breathlessness.

The youngster told doctors his chest felt like 'popping bubble wrap' when touched and confessed to them and his devastated mum that he'd inhaled nitrous oxide whilst at the festival in Heaton Park.

He was diagnosed with a ruptured and leaking lung and told he was lucky to be alive. But medics warned he may need surgery to remove air that was trapped around his lungs and heart.

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His mum, Cathy Mccann, 44, has describe the ordeal as "terrifying" and said that Alex has vowed never to inhale balloons again, admitting he didn't know the potential dangers.

Cathy, from Ellesmere Port, Cheshire, said: "He's said it's the worst thing he could have done. He didn't realise himself what the dangers were and he did it because all his mates were doing it."

The beauty therapist came home from work last Monday (13 June) night to find her son in bed. When she asked Alex what was wrong he told her his chest felt "tight" and that he felt breathless.

"When I pressed on his chest it was like bubble wrap, he was in pain and his neck was swollen. You only had to press it a tiny bit and it was crackling and crunching," she said.

"I panicked and dialled 111. They said to take him straight to hospital. The doctor listened to his chest and felt the popping. I'm panicking, they're asking questions, about whether he's had injuries, been squashed in a crowd, been weightlifting or done anything that could have caused the damage.

"He said no to all of those so they told him