A devastated dad is warning young people about the dangers of sniffing deodorant cans after his son dropped dead at home.

Ben Lygo, 22, suffered a fatal heart attack after sniffing a can of deodorant in his brother's bedroom, an inquest was told.

His dad, Walter Lygo, said Ben's death was a "tragic waste" and warned others not to follow in his footsteps by playing "Russian Roulette" with their lives.

Butane found in deodorant cans is extremely dangerous and potentially fatal when inhaled.

Mr Lygo, of Springdale Crescent, Thorpe Edge, Bradford, said: "It's got to be brought home to children that sniffing deodorant cans is a stupid thing to do. You might as well put a gun to your head and play Russian Roulette. You only have to do it once and it can kill you.

"Ben was by no means stupid but I suppose he just thought he was in control and would get away with it. It's a tragic waste. We half-suspected the cause but it's not illegal to buy deodorant and it's difficult to stop people doing it.

"We still can't believe what's happened, we keep expecting him to just walk in.

"The inquest was the final thing, now we can try to get on with our lives - unfortunately without Ben."

Ben was a former Bradford City FC season ticket holder and was also passionate about the Liverpool club.

He used to play in goal for Stansfield Junior Football Club, in Apperley Bridge, and then became manager of Idle Junior's under-10 team.

He was also a keen musician who played the guitar as a hobby and the bugle for Idle Baptist Church's boys' brigade.

Recording a verdict of accidental death at yesterday's inquest, Bradford Coroner Roger Whittaker warned youngsters of the dangers of butane found in the cans.

"Anyone who uses this form of inhalation for whatever reason is playing a dangerous game and death can occur in my view even on the first occasion this is used," he said. "It's something which I believe all young people should be aware of.

"It is not dose critical, it's unpredictable."

The hearing was told that Ben, who lived with his mum and dad, had managed to rid himself of a heroin addiction but in September last year was heard making sniffing noises in the house.

His brother Christopher rushed into the bedroom thinking he was taking drugs and found him crouched on the floor. "His eyes were shut, he appeared as though he was out of it," he said.

Christopher and his dad attempted resuscitation and phoned an ambulance, but he was pronounced dead at hospital.

Consultant pathologist Dr Philip Batman said the cause of death was a heart attack due to the inhalation of butane. He told the coroner that butane can be extremely dangerous. "It can be more dangerous than taking recreational drugs because its affects are unpredictable," Dr Batman told the coroner.

Mr Whittaker offered his sympathy to Mr Lygo's family who were at the hearing yesterday.

He said: "This death is a huge tragedy for all of you, an unnecessary death which makes it even more poignant.

"I hope that some good may come from Ben's tragedy that others may learn of the very grave danger of even the very first inhalation of such an item."

Mr Lygo's death is thought to be the first of its kind in Bradford since 16-year-old Chantelle Bleau died after sniffing lighter fuel containing butane in 1997.

Her family and her church, the Abundant Life Centre, set up the Chantelle Bleau Memorial Fund to prevent needless deaths by educating children inn schools on the dangers of substance abuse.

Jo Morrill, of the Chantelle Bleau Memorial Fund, said today: "As far as I am aware, there have not been any deaths from butane in Bradford since Chantelle's death in 1997. It is gutting to hear about another death from butane. Up until now we have been grateful there have been no other deaths so this is quite a blow.

"There is only one thing you can say to volatile substances or solvents and that is: Do not do it. There is no harm minimisation - it has the potential to kill you. Chantelle took it once and it was fatal."

Some 50 volunteers will be giving 100 education sessions to Bradford schoolchildren, through the Chantelle Bleau Memorial Fund, during Volatile Substance Awareness Week from March 13 to 17.