A four-year-old boy named Matthew Radar has died after accidentally ingesting cinnamon powder inside a container he found on his family's kitchen. While the devastating loss left the boy's mother in despair, it has strengthened her resolve to share the dangers of cinnamon to others.
The four-year-old boy was reportedly left unattended in the kitchen before the incident occurred. As all four-year-olds do, Matther started exploring the kitchen of their apartment in Richmond, climbed the counter and discovered the powered spice. The four-year-old boy died of cinnamon powder after he put some of the spice on his mouth, choked then collapsed.
Unfortunately, when his mother Brianna found him and realized what had happened, it was too late. Matthew was rushed to the Baptist Health Medical Center after Brianna found him having seizures, but medics weren't able to save little Matthew's life.
An hour and a half later, the four-year-old boy was pronounced dead after ingesting cinnamon, according LEX18.
"He was completely healthy - no problems," said a heartbroken Brianna. "He started choking. It was like he was having a seizure and just collapsed."
Apparently, the four-year-old boy died of cinnamon because the powder clogged his lungs. The coroner also said that when inhaled, cinnamon can result to asphyxiation, reported The Inquisitr.
According to Fox 8, the coroner ruled the four-year-old boy's death from cinnamon powder as an accident,
The latest death of the boy ingesting cinnamon comes as the trend "The Cinnamon Challenge" sweeps across the United States, according to The Mirror.
Though unrelated to Matthew's death, Brianna Rader wants to use the story of the death of her son to warn others of the challenge. The mother of two wants the public to know that cinnamon can kill.
"All these kids do the cinnamon challenge. They don't think about the fact it can hurt them," said Brianna.
On Facebook, the mother of the four-year-old boy who died of cinnamon wrote how grateful she is that the story has spread, adding that she hopes it will save the life of at least one child.
"I can't express how grateful I am for all the amazing support we have right now. And each and every one of you are amazing," Brianna said in a June 4 post.
"Matty man's story made the Lex 18 news and now CNN wants to share it nationwide. That helps ease my breaking heart just a little to think that just maybe my baby's story can save even just one child's life," she added.
"My Matty was definitely loved by many and he loved everyone. Fly high baby boy we love you more than words could ever explain. And we miss you so much it hurts. R.I.P my sweet little angel," Brianna also said.
The Cinnamon Challenge requires a participant to swallow a spoonful of ground cinnamon without the help of any liquids. The challenge has also been considered a prank. It went viral on social media in 2011, reported The Daily Mail.
According to doctors, the Cinnamon Challenge is dangerous since particles of the spice, when inhaled, could go through the windpipe and into the lungs, eventually causing inflammation or choking.
Little Matthew was laid to rest June 9. He leaves behind his mother, father, brother Alexander, grandparents and great-grandparents.