Fashion-conscious Daniel Hurley, who was “lavish” in his use of deodorants and hair gels, suffered heart problems “almost certainly” induced by solvents in the can. Consultant pathologist Dr Andrew Hitchcock, who carried out a post mortem, said he found no evidence of substance abuse, or any presence of life-threatening disease, alcohol or drugs. Coroner Dr Robert Hunter said the cause of death was “cardiac arrhythmia” – an abnormal heart rhythm – exacerbated by exposure to solvents. He said he was satisfied that Unilever, the makers of Lynx, give enough warning on their cans that excessive amounts were not to be used in confined spaces. But he stressed: “I do not know how many people read the warnings about exposure awareness.

People need to know about the risks that these products have on the cardio-vascular system Coroner Dr Robert Hunter

People need to know about the risks that these products have on the cardio-vascular system.” He recorded a verdict of accidental death on Daniel, of Sandiacre, near Nottingham, who died in hospital five days after his father found him unconscious in the bath. Mr Robert Hurley told the hearing in Derby on Wednesday that his son was proud of his appearance and was “lavish” in his use of deodorants and hair gels. “He was always putting gel on his hair and spraying deodorant and it was quite common for him to spray his clothing as well,” Mr Hurley said.

Three weeks earlier, Daniel, whom his father said was a “fit and healthy young man”, had also collapsed in the bathroom but made an immediate recovery. Mr Hurley said on the day that Daniel died he had been making tea while his son was in the adjacent bathroom of their home. “I shouted to see if he was OK,” he said, “I heard nothing so I shouted again but did not get a reply. I forced the door open and found Daniel in the bath. “I pulled him out on to the floor and started cardio-pulmonary resuscitation. I checked for his heart rate and his breath but he was not breathing.” Daniel’s mother Lynsey called an ambulance which rushed him to Nottingham’s Queen’s Medical Centre where he was treated in intensive care, but died on January 12 this year.

Consultant pathologist Dr Hitchcock said: “What we have in this case is someone who may have had a cardiac abnormality in the presence of the solvent. “There is a very reasonable assumption that the passive inhalation of the solvent almost certainly led to his death.” Each Lynx can carries a 90-word list of directions for use, warning that the product should be kept out of the reach of children and not sprayed near the eyes or naked flames. The last sentence of this reads: “Use in well ventilated places, avoid prolonged spraying”.

A Lynx spokesman said: “We would like to express our most sincere condolences to the friends and family of Daniel Hurley after this tragic accident.” Daniel’s parents were yesterday too upset to talk about their son’s death. His mother Lynsey, 34, paid tribute to her son on an internet site soon after his death. She said: “He is my first born son. “He was my reason for life for so long, he inspired me to better myself, he was so very, very special in so many ways.