

Woman 'blew up like a balloon'



The incident baffled doctors at Guy's Hospital





A woman who impaled herself on a helium gas cylinder blew up like a balloon - and thought she was going to explode.



The bizarre accident reportedly happened when Samantha Munns, 35, fell onto the sharp nozzle of a helium cylinder used to inflate children's balloons.



She had fallen from a step ladder at her toy shop in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire.



And in a turn of events which has baffled doctors, her leg and stomach swelled up to twice their normal size within seconds.



Mother-of-two Mrs Munns said: "I was panic-stricken. I thought I was going to explode.







I've heard every joke there is about balloons, windbags and gas

Samantha Munns "I was very frightened and thought I was going to die.



"I could see my whole thigh and stomach instantly blowing up. I looked as if I was five months pregnant."



Baffled doctors at Cheltenham General Hospital didn't know what to do and phoned Guy's Hospital in London for advice.



In the end, Mrs Munns was told to rest and allow time for the gas to disperse naturally.



She added: "For five days I couldn't even stand up. It took two weeks to get back to normal.



"Now people think it's very funny. I've heard every joke there is about balloons, windbags and gas."



