Online Reporter
Patrick Chitumba
Herald Reporter
POLICE have launched an investigation into the demise of three adults and two minors, who reportedly died in their sleep at a homestead in Gudhuza Village under Headman Shiku after inhaling carbon monoxide emitted by a burning brazier (mbaura) 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 sought to come to terms with the tragedy.
“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.
“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 younger brother’s son Nigel and his son, Jeremiah, by the fire.
“We knew that my younger 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 did not know 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 mortuary awaiting post-mortem 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’s has happened. Three adults and two minors sought warmth in their sleep using a brazier in their bedroom and died in their sleep,” said the chief.
“The house has only one door, positioned off-centre, so the imbaula 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 carbon monoxide kills
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 actually 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 colourless, odourless and tasteless gas, which will be inhaled peacefully and absorbed by your 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. As a result your essential organs are 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 actually reversible if the early symptoms of headaches and confusion are picked up early and the patients are taken to hospital and given high concentration of oxygen treatment,” he said.
Peter Tanyanyiwa