Carbon monoxide poisoning was the cause of death for three American women who were discovered dead in Belize last month while they were on holiday there, according to the authorities in Belize, who made the announcement on Wednesday.
In February, three ladies from Revere, Massachusetts, namely Kaoutar Naqqad, who was 23 years old, Imane Mallah, who was 24 years old, and Wafae El-Arar, who was 26 years old, were discovered unconscious in their hotel room at the Royal Kahal Beach Resort. The women had a buildup of fluids in their lungs, according to the investigators in Belize, who stated during the previous month that they were still waiting for the final test results to determine the cause of death.
Carboxyhemoglobin levels were more than sixty percent in all three of the ladies, according to Gian Cho, the executive director of the National Forensic Science Service, who stated this information on Wednesday. In nonsmokers, the levels of carboxyhemoglobin are normally lower than 2%, while in smokers, the levels are often lower than 5%.
Carbon monoxide is a gas that is odourless and colourless, and it is formed whenever a fossil fuel comes into contact with combustion. When people take in fumes that are produced by home appliances such as furnaces, kerosene heaters, stoves, lanterns and generators, they may expose themselves to the risk of accidental poisoning.
Commissioner Chester Williams of the Belize Police Department stated that as a result of the findings, officials have conducted a second test of the hotel room for carbon monoxide poisoning. The first test did not reveal any symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning within the room. Williams stated that they are still waiting for the results of the preliminary tests.
In addition, the authorities discovered and examined the gummies and alcohol that were discovered in the room. Cho reported that although THC was discovered in one of the objects, there was no evidence of any illegal narcotics in the remains of the three ladies discovered.
The families of the deceased expressed their gratitude in a joint statement, “While we remain shattered by the loss of these three bright lights in our world, we are incredibly heartened by the results of this investigation and grateful to those who completed it in a thorough and independent manner.”
Since the commencement of this investigation, we have expressed our worry that their deaths were suspicious and have voiced our worries about the original findings that were published in the journalism media. The families stated that they were still waiting for the results of an independent review that was being conducted by Massachusetts authorities. “While today’s official finding puts an end to those initial reports, we hope that this will give authorities in law enforcement pause before they make similar suggestions during future investigations,” the families said. Our families and other survivors are deserving of the best and most honest work they can do. Despite the fact that we acquired it now, we required it throughout the entirety of this investigation.
Because of the outpouring of support that we have gotten from family, friends, leaders, and loved ones since their passing, our families continue to be extremely grateful. The privacy that has been granted to our families during this time of mourning is something that we are grateful for. Additionally, we would like to express our gratitude to the media for their assistance in ensuring that Wafae, Imane, and Kaoutar, as well as the impact of their loss, be extensively covered in your news coverage. As we work through this unfathomable loss, our families ask that you continue to pray for us, be patient with us, and respect our privacy. Their wonderful souls deserve to be at peace for all of eternity. From this day forward, Kaoutar, Imane, and Wafae, we shall always love and miss you.
Belize officials say 3 American women died of carbon monoxide poisoning.
