Written by Joyce Nzomo
A 25-year-old man has died and seven others, including five police officers, have been hospitalized following a suspected carbon monoxide leak at a restaurant in north-west Sydney.
Emergency services were called to the Haveli Indian restaurant on Garfield Road, Riverstone, shortly after 9am on Tuesday after the owner raised concerns about the premises.
The owner and his son discovered the young man believed to be a cleaner unconscious on the ground floor.
They immediately began CPR before police arrived and joined the effort, but the man could not be revived.
Assistant Police Commissioner Gavin Wood confirmed that five police officers who tried to save the man were overcome by fumes and rushed to Blacktown Hospital, where they remain in a stable condition.
The restaurant owner and his son were also hospitalised after being exposed while assisting the victim. In total, seven survivors were treated for the effects of the leak.
Fire and Rescue NSW said hazmat crews detected “extremely high levels” of carbon monoxide in the restaurant, which had displaced much of the oxygen in the two-storey building.
Six residents living in apartments above the premises were evacuated as a precaution but were not injured.
Restaurant owner Resham Singh, who purchased the business last year, said the news was devastating.
“This is shocking news for me. It’s so bad, I’m feeling so sad as well,” he said.
Local MP Warren Kirby extended condolences to the victim’s family and praised first responders, adding that he was seeking updates from NSW Health on those hospitalised.
Specialist paramedics, doctors, and a rescue helicopter were deployed to the scene. Hazmat crews remain on-site as investigations continue into the source of the leak, with a full report to be prepared for the coroner.
Courtesy of ABC News
