A one-year-old boy has been placed in an induced coma after a freak accident while his mum was baking a Bluey birthday cake.
Little Dusty was rushed to hospital after inhaling a decorative gold dust powder in what his family has described as a 'horrific' ordeal.
The Gold Coast family's nightmare unfolded in a matter of seconds on Friday, May 1.
According to a GoFundMe set up by family friend Rochelle, Dusty got hold of the powder, which is commonly used in cake decorating, opened the pot with his teeth and inhaled it, triggering a medical emergency.
'When the dust is mixed with water it turns to paste - so it immediately blocked Dusty's lungs,' Rochelle said.
'He went unresponsive and she called 000.'
Dusty was rushed to Queensland Children's Hospital in Brisbane, where doctors acted quickly to save the toddler's life.
A one-year-old boy named Dusty, has been placed in an induced coma in Brisbane after a freak kitchen accident left his lungs severely compromised
'He's had to have surgery already to clear his lungs and is now in an induced coma,' Rochelle said.
The incident happened while his mother, Katie, an experienced professional cake maker, was preparing a Bluey-themed cake for Rochelle's child's first birthday.
Doctors have since diagnosed the toddler with chemical pneumonitis, a serious condition caused by inhaling toxic substances.
'He has what's called chemical pneumonitis,' Rochelle said.
'There's some fluid in there still, so they've flushed what they can and sent a sample off to the lab to make sure there's no infection.
'They're unsure of how long it will take for the lungs to get rid of the copper, or what that looks like for him.'
Dusty has already undergone multiple procedures, and his breathing tube has since been moved from his mouth to his nose.
The Gold Coast family's nightmare unfolded in a matter of seconds on Friday May 1st, after Dusty inhaled decorative gold dust powder while his mum was baking a Bluey birthday cake (stock photo)
He remains under close observation in intensive care.
'Another x-ray to come today,' the GoFundMe update added, but despite some small signs of progress, Dusty's condition remains uncertain.
He is still unable to breathe independently, with one update revealing he is 'on 50 per cent oxygen and 50 per cent breathing on his own', while scans on Monday showed his lungs appeared 'worse than the day before'.
The product involved is understood to be a decorative edible dust, often used to create shimmer or colour in cakes.
However, the incident has raised urgent questions around labelling and safety.
According to the family's friend, the powder is 'for decorative purposes only' and 'not edible and toxic', adding it 'doesn't... really [seem to be] labelled that well'.
Dusty reportedly got hold of the gold dust powder, which is commonly used in cake decorating, opened the pot with his teeth and inhaled it. 'When the dust is mixed with water it turns to paste - so it immediately blocked Dusty's lungs,' a family friend wrote on the boys GoFundMe (stock photo)
She also claimed the supplier had been contacted and that the product has since been removed from sale, effective immediately.
'She's contacted all of her stockists to remove the product,' she said.
Daily Mail has contacted the cake decorating company believed to manufacture the product for comment.
Beyond the medical emergency, the ordeal has placed enormous strain on Dusty's parents, Katie and Chris, who are both self-employed.
'Katie and Chris are both sole traders and don't know when they'll be able to work again, as Dusty's condition is so rare they don't know how long he'll be in hospital for,' Rochelle said.
The family has been staying at Ronald McDonald House in Brisbane, but their accommodation is only temporary.
'Ronald McDonald House only has accommodation for them until tomorrow, so now they need to pay for accommodation while also trying to keep up with their mortgage and normal life expenses,' Rochelle explained.
The fundraiser has since attracted an outpouring of support, with friends and strangers rallying to help the family stay by Dusty's side.
For now, loved ones have said they are taking things 'day by day' as doctors continue to monitor Dusty's condition.