Mother Left In Coma After Using Hair Dye

A woman who collapsed immediately after using a home hair-dye kit is fighting for her life in hospital.

Julia McCabe, 38, stopped breathing after what her family believe was a reaction to a chemical in the dye.

The mother-of-two, who is from Keighley in Yorkshire, is in a coma on life support in Airedale General Hospital with her family by her side.

The Yorkshire Post says her father, Keith Miller, has been warned that his daughter may not survive.

Mrs McCabe had used the dark-coloured L'Oreal Preferences dye but then started to feel ill and told her husband Russell she was struggling to breathe.

Mr Miller, of Shipley, added: "She finished dyeing her hair and said 'I don't feel well, I can't breathe', to her husband. He rushed her to hospital.

"She is in a coma. We've spoken to the doctors and they have more or less said to us the condition she is in now is most likely how she will stay. They are not giving us much hope. It's hard to take in."

Mr Miller said he believes a chemical called para-phenylenediamine (PPD) caused his daughter's condition.

PPD is widely used as a permanent hair dye and is popular because it can give a natural look.

However, in some cases the chemical can cause skin problems such as dermatitis and on the rare occasion a reaction can lead to anaphylaxis.

A spokesperson for L'Oreal told Sky News Online the company is "extremely concerned to hear about this serious situation".

"We do not know the details of the case so it would be inappropriate for us to comment further, however we will do everything we can to assist this lady's family and medical team with information they might need to establish what happened."