Robert Besser
10 May 2022, 13:17 GMT+10
NASSAU, Bahamas: After three Americans were found dead and another hospitalized on May 6, a faulty air conditioner leaking toxic coolant is believed responsible for the deaths of the tourists.
Following the deaths, tourist Chris Coucheron-Aamot, who is currently on holiday at the Sandals Emerald Bay resort in Exuma, posted on Facebook, "Three of our neighbors in the building right next to us died and a fourth was airlifted in critical condition early yesterday."
One of the dead Americans was identified as Vincent Chiarella of Birmingham, Alabama, whose wife, Donnis, was hospitalized. Both were in their mid-60s.
Most air conditioners use the chemical Freon as a coolant, which is a toxic gas that is tasteless and mostly odorless, which can prove fatal if inhaled over a prolonged period of time.
Local police are now investigating the deaths of the three American, two of whom complained of illness to hotel staff the evening before they died. It was since learned that two other guests, a couple staying at the same villa, suffered convulsions before their deaths.
"Our initial investigations revealed that the couple found in the second villa complained of illness the previous evening," a statement released by New Providence police said.
Hotel staff discovered the body of Chiarella shortly after 9 am on Friday in a villa next to the dead couple, the police added.
Chiarella's wife, Donnis, was airlifted to a hospital in the capital city Nassau, said Exuma MP and Minister of Tourism Chester Cooper.
She has since been airlifted to Kendall Regional Hospital in Florida, her son, Austin, told ABC News.
In a statement to DailyMail.com on May 6, a Sandals spokesperson said they were cooperating with the police investigation, but did not comment on inquiries regarding claims about the faulty air conditioner unit.
In an emailed statement, the representative wrote, "Nothing is more important to Sandals Resorts than the safety of our guests."
Get a daily dose of Middle East Star news through our daily email, its complimentary and keeps you fully up to date with world and business news as well.
Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Middle East Star.
More InformationNEW DELHI, India: Tesla made known this week that it will not sell electric automobiles in India due to the ...
WASHINGTON D.C.: The U.S. airline industry is pressuring the Biden administration to lift a 16-month-old regulation requiring a negative COVID-19 ...
DUBAI, UAE: After stating that it was looking to expand into new markets and related sectors, such as financial technology, ...
MOSCOW, Russia: Russia's weekly inflation rate has further eased after surging soon after Moscow began its invasion in Ukraine on ...
BRUSSELS, Belgium: Three years after the adoption of the landmark EU copyright rules, Google is set to pay 300 publishers ...
WOLFSBURG, Germany: Tesla's expansion took Volkswagen by surprise, said an official, and the German carmaker may struggle to overtake Tesla, ...
BEIJING, China: China's Foreign Ministry rebuked the U.S. for changing the wording about Taiwan on the State Department website, stressing ...
VATICAN CITY: While recovering from knee problems that have forced him to use a wheelchair last week, Pope Francis announced ...
SIALKOT, Pakistan - Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan has claimed that a plot to kill him was being hatched, ...
BERLIN, Germany: Citing Interior Ministry data, Welt am Sonntag newspaper has reported that more than 700,000 people fleeing the war ...
WASHINGTON D.C.: The U.S. airline industry is pressuring the Biden administration to lift a 16-month-old regulation requiring a negative COVID-19 ...
DOLNI MORAVA, Czech Republic: The world's longest pedestrian suspension bridge has opened at a mountain resort in the Czech Republic. ...