A Gold Coast toddler who was put in an induced coma after inhaling non-edible rose gold cake-decorating dust which turned into a toxic paste is showing signs of improvement, his relieved mum says.
Professional baker Katie Robinson was baking a cake for a friend’s child over the weekend when her son Dustin “Dusty” Wildman found an unopened container of rose gold dust powder.
In “a matter of seconds”, Robinson said the 14-month-old had bit the lid off and inhaled its contents. The powder turned into a paste that immediately blocked his lungs.
“Within minutes he was unresponsive, and it was just so terrifying to see,” she told 7News.
Dusty became unresponsive and his mum called emergency services.
Robinson yesterday told The Courier Mail she later learned the dust contained copper, which wouldn’t dissolve in blood.
Today, Robinson said her son was “doing better” following the terrifying ordeal.
“He’s made some progress, and the doctors are pretty happy with how he’s looking,” she said.
“He’s telling us that he’s ready for his little tube to come out, which is amazing.”
A GoFundMe page set up for the family had raised nearly AU$47,000 (NZ$57,000) as of 1.30pm today.