Stove fumes kill two
The lifeless bodies of a 2-year old boy and a 21-year old woman were discovered and three more people have been hospitalized because of carbon monoxide poisoning from a Purulwana (hand-made stove) in their Tokologo home.
When Lindiwe Skhosane, who sleeps in the outside room, knocked at the main house to prepare for work at 4.25 Thursday morning, there was no answer.
She knocked for more than ten minutes and also tried phoning the people who live inside the house, but none of them answered.
When she saw that some of the lights inside the house were on, she knew then that something was wrong.
She looked through the window and saw them “sleeping in an unusual way”.
She called neighbours and they helped her to climb through the window.
Once inside, she had the shock of her life, Maria Maine had foam oozing out of her mouth and was lying on the heads of the two deceased Suprise Skhosane (2) and Lerato Maine(21).
“I quickly moved Maria from the children, she was still breathing,” said Lindiwe.
They phoned the Ambulance and police.
Suprise and Lerato were declared dead on the scene, Maria Maine and Leago Maine were hospitalised, Lethabo Maine is currently in ICU.
In these cases the stove must be left outside for a while to allow the coal to burn as the smoke is harmful.
Lindiwe said that she suspects that they did not allow the coal to burn.
They usually use wood but they started using coal that week, which is more harmful, added Lindiwe.
Suprise Skhosane was buried on Sunday 27 July 2014 at Mooiplaas Farm and no funeral arrangements were made for Lerato as her her mother (Maria) is still in hospital.
