A mother has reported that her son’s birthday celebration was ruined by a negative incident at a stadium in France. Michaela Burns, aged 33 and residing in St Helens, surprised her son, Henry Heaney, with tickets to attend a concert of his favorite band, AC/DC, for his 10th birthday at the Stade de France in Paris. The surprise was kept secret until they arrived at the hotel, where she recorded Henry’s delighted reaction for his father back home. Unfortunately, their experience at the stadium was overshadowed by other attendees smoking and vaping in close proximity to Henry.
Henry, who suffers from asthma and had once been hospitalized due to a respiratory episode as a child, started showing signs of distress when the air around him became filled with smoke at the venue. Despite a recent smoking ban in France that prohibits smoking in outdoor areas frequented by children, including stadiums like the Stade de France, some spectators disregarded the rule. This led to Henry experiencing symptoms of a respiratory attack and eventually having a panic attack in the stadium’s first aid room.
Following the incident, Henry received medical attention at a local hospital and was discharged with a prescription. Michaela expressed her disappointment, mentioning that they may never have the opportunity to see AC/DC perform live again due to the distressing experience. She emphasized the need for non-smoking policies to be strictly enforced in venues, especially for individuals with respiratory conditions like Henry.
After leaving the stadium, a security officer noticed Henry still appeared unwell, prompting them to seek further medical assistance at Saint Denis Hospital. Michaela hopes to raise awareness about the impact of inconsiderate behavior, highlighting the challenges faced by individuals with breathing difficulties. The Stade de France spokesperson issued an apology for the inconvenience caused, acknowledging the need to enforce smoking bans more effectively within the stadium to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for all attendees.
