Durban - The recent tragic deaths of a young Pietermaritzburg couple, now attributed to carbon monoxide poisoning, are part of a list of such incidents.
Tashlin Sewnarain and Taybah Shaik’s bodies were found in the bathroom of a KwaZulu-Natal Midlands chalet a day after they checked in, in May.
* About six years ago, a young Johannesburg couple died under similar circumstances at White Mountain Lodge near the Drakensberg mountains.
There were conflicting versions as to what led to the deaths of Dhiren Singh, 26, and his girlfriend, Cheryl Chetty, 24.
While a state’s pathologist found that the couple had died of carbon monoxide inhalation, pivate forensic expert Reggie Perumal disagreed, noting that Singh could have been suffocated.
* In July 2014, four children and a man died as a result of carbon monoxide poisoning, Sapa reported. The man was believed to have lit a small “imbawula” fire (a coal fire in a tin) inside their house and they inadvertently inhaled the toxic fumes.
* In a separate incident, a man of 26 and boy of 16 were found dead in a shack in Diepsloot. They had also used an imbawula fire in their home and died from inhaling carbon monoxide.
* In July 2014, TimesLive reported that three family members in Witbank died of carbon monoxide poisoning, allegedly caused by their heater.
Seth Offelsen 38, his wife Rose, 30, and their daughter Roseth, 3, were found dead on their bedroom floor on July 16 that year, police said. The couple’s 4-year-old son was found in the house unharmed.
“The father was found holding the baby girl in a kneeling position on the main bedroom floor, while his wife was found lying next to them,” police said.
* In February this year, a Ladysmith couple and a child died from apparent smoke inhalation after part of their home was gutted by fire as they slept. Anesh Ramnarain, 38, his wife, Nirvasha, 34, and daughter, Diakasha, 5, were found in the bathroom. The couple’s other daughter, Shirdika, 7, was the sole survivor.
According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, carbon monoxide, or “CO” is an odourless, colourless gas that can kill you.
An odourless, colourless gas
According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, carbon monoxide, or “CO” is an odourless, colourless gas that can kill you.
It is found in fumes produced any time fuel is burned in cars or trucks, small engines, stoves, lanterns, grills, fireplaces, gas ranges or furnaces.
Symptoms of CO poisoning are headache, dizziness, weakness, upset stomach, vomiting, chest pain and confusion. They are often described as “flu-like”. People who are sleeping or drunk can die before they have symptoms.
Each year, more than 400 Americans die from unintentional CO poisoning not linked to fires.
The CDC recommends the installation of CO detectors in homes and to have heating systems, water heaters, and any other gas, oil or coal burning appliances serviced by a qualified technician every year.
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