Online Reporter
Patrick Chitumba, [email protected]
Police have launched an investigation into the deaths of three adults and two minors in Gudhuza Village, under Chief Masunda in Zvishavane District, who reportedly succumbed to carbon monoxide poisoning from a brazier used for warmth while sleeping, on Sunday night.
Neighbours and the wider community are in shock following the tragic death of a 60-year-old man and two others in their 30s, alongside a Grade Two pupil and a Grade Six pupil.
A close family member, Mr Judiah Simango, was at a loss for words as he tried to come to terms with the loss.
“My brother, who is a teacher in Shurugwi, John Ncube, visited us on Saturday together with his son Nigel.
“They had come to see our mother, who is now very old and were supposed to return to Shurugwi yesterday morning,” he said.
Struggling to hold back his tears, Mr Simango said the family had enjoyed a “beautiful and lovely” weekend as brothers with their sons came to visit Gogo Simango.
“On Sunday evening, we were gathered around a bonfire before my young brother John, my son Judiah and our nephew Denzel retired to bed,” he said.
Later on, Mr Simango said he retired to bed in another room, leaving behind his young brother’s son, Nigel and his son, Jeremiah, by the fire.
“We knew that my young brother and Nigel were supposed to catch a 4AM bus to Shurugwi. But when it was around 4.30AM, there was no sign or movement from them,” he said.
“So, we decided to go and check on them, and we were met with five lifeless bodies.”
Mr Simango said they never knew that Nigel and his son had carried a brazier into the room that had little ventilation.
He said the bodies have been ferried to Zvishavane District Hospital waiting postmortem while burial arrangements were underway.
“We are all in deep pain mixed with shock and disbelief. We are calling on well-wishers to assist us in any way they can so that we bury our beloved ones,” said Mr Simango.
Chief Masunda, who visited the homestead, said the community was devastated by grief over the shocking incident.
“It’s unimaginable, but it has happened. Three adults and two minors sought warmth for the night using a brazier in their bedroom and died in their sleep,” said the Chief.
“The house had only one door, positioned off-centre, so the brazier was placed in the centre of the room.
“Tragically, they slept and did not wake up. The family had visited their 90-year-old mother earlier that day and were planning an early departure the next morning for work in Shurugwi,” said Chief Masunda.
“One was due to catch an early bus, but when other family members went to wake him up around 4AM, they found five lifeless bodies.”
Midlands Provincial police spokesperson Inspector Emmanuel Mahoko confirmed the incident but said police investigations were still underway.
“We confirm a case where five people died after allegedly inhaling carbon monoxide emitted by the brazier, they were using to warm themselves. Investigations are underway,” he said.
How does carbon monoxide kill humans?
Contacted for comment, Dr Peter Murambi, an intensivist, said carbon monoxide inhalation in a closed room was a big risk.
“When you light up a fire, in an environment with limited air or oxygen, the product of that combustion is carbon monoxide, which is a product of combustion with limited oxygen, which happens because of the closed windows,” he said.
He described carbon monoxide as a colourless, odourless and tasteless gas, which is inhaled peacefully and absorbed by the lungs in the same way humans inhale oxygen.
“However, when inhaled, carbon monoxide will bind to your red blood cells 200 times stronger than oxygen does,” said Dr Murambi.
“So, it will prevent your red blood cells from carrying oxygen to your vital organs. Your essential organs are then deprived of oxygen, which is needed for their metabolism.
“As a result, the vital organs start to suffer from oxygen deprivation, which is called tissue hypoxia.”
Dr Murambi said the signs start early in the brain, with headaches, nausea and confusion, and if exposure continues and the level of carbon monoxide rises in the blood, most major organs will eventually be completely starved of oxygen, leading to the brain and heart eventually stopping to work, leading to death.
“This type of carbon monoxide poisoning is reversible if the early symptoms of headaches and confusion are picked up early and the patients are taken to hospital and given high-concentration oxygen treatment,” he said.
