A TEENAGER whose Asperger's Syndrome led him to develop compulsive behaviour – including an obsession with smells – died after he sniffed an aerosol spray.

Before his death, Harry Wilson, 14, had discussed with his family that he wanted to be an organ donor – and his organs have now been used to help three other people.

The teenager was diagnosed with Asperger's at the age of five and also showed signs of compulsive patterns of behaviour and Tourette's.

As part of his condition he had an obsession with smells, such as perfume.

Harry, who was popular at school and an avid reader, was found by his mother at their Newark home, Nottingham Coroner's Court heard yesterday. The teenager was in the top bunk in his bedroom in Rutland Avenue, with an aerosol can nearby. Three cans of deodorant were also found in a bin in his bedroom.

Harry's mother tried to resuscitate him and called the emergency services and he was taken to Lincoln Hospital by ambulance, but died on January 24 as a consequence of inhaling the fumes.

Mairin Casey, coroner for Nottingham and Notts, returned a verdict of accidental death. She said: "He was sniffing aerosol because that was what Harry at the time was obsessed with doing."

The court heard that as part of his condition, Harry would sometimes eat things such as plaster from walls, and would develop obsessions with inanimate objects.

But the teenager led a happy life, with many friends at school.

His liver was donated to a 40-year-old mother of two who had life-threatening liver disease; his pancreas and one of his kidneys was donated to a lady in her 40s who is severely diabetic; and his other kidney was donated to a 68-year-old man.

The court heard that since his death and as a result of what he did, 49 people have signed up to be organ donors. A fund set up in his name, Harry's Fund, has donated money to the paediatric intensive care unit at the Queen's Medical Centre.

Miss Casey added: "In death he and his family have gone on to enhance and save other lives.

"This is perhaps the greatest tribute that anybody could make after death and I commend the family for this gesture.

"This was Harry's own idea. He had expressed a view once to his mum that in the event of his death he would want to see people have his organs. The most unbelievably brave decision was taken at the time of his death that this should happen."