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 Irish Sun 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 Irish Sun.
More InformationWASHINGTON D.C.: The U.S. State Department has announced the launch of a new program to capture and analyze evidence of ...
JAKARTA, Indonesia: A new poll released this week indicated that Indonesian President Joko Widodo's approval rating has hit a six-year ...
EAST JAVA, Indonesia: A tourist bus crashed into a billboard on a highway on Indonesia's main island of Java this ...
BELGRADE, Serbia: Belgrade was paralyzed this week by a series of bomb threats, including against schools, bridges, restaurants and a ...
WASHINGTON D.C.: In a tweet this week, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos criticized President Joe Biden for the second time in ...
TEHRAN, Iran: According to social media posts, protests that began last week across Iran over a reduction in state subsidies ...
LIMERICK, Ireland: Current and former soccer players were among ten suspects arrested this week in Limerick in connection with an ...
WASHINGTON D.C.: The U.S. State Department has announced the launch of a new program to capture and analyze evidence of ...
BELGRADE, Serbia: Belgrade was paralyzed this week by a series of bomb threats, including against schools, bridges, restaurants and a ...
MADRID, Spain: In a coordinated move last week, Spain and Portugal approved a temporary cap on natural gas prices.The move ...
BERLIN, Germany: Citing Interior Ministry data, Welt am Sonntag newspaper has reported that more than 700,000 people fleeing the war ...
DOLNI MORAVA, Czech Republic: The world's longest pedestrian suspension bridge has opened at a mountain resort in the Czech Republic. ...