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Zane Gbangbola's father tells inquest how toxic fumes left him paralysed Zane Gbangbola's father tells inquest how toxic fumes left him paralysed
(about 1 hour later)
The father of a seven-year-old boy believed to have died from inhaling toxic fumes during severe flooding has described how he was left paralysed from the waist down after breathing in the same gas.The father of a seven-year-old boy believed to have died from inhaling toxic fumes during severe flooding has described how he was left paralysed from the waist down after breathing in the same gas.
Kye Gbangbola, an environmental engineer, was found collapsed at the family’s home in Chertsey, Surrey. He awoke in hospital hours later to learn of the death of his son, Zane. Kye Gbangbola, an environmental engineer, was found collapsed at the family’s home in Chertsey, Surrey. He awoke in hospital hours later to learn of the death of his son, Zane. Gbangbola, who still has no movement in his legs and uses a wheelchair, told an inquest that he had since been diagnosed with rhabdomyolysis – or muscle destruction – caused by hydrogen cyanide gas.
Gbangbola, who still has no movement in his legs and uses a wheelchair, told an inquest that he had since been diagnosed with rhabdomyolysis – or muscle destruction – caused by hydrogen cyanide gas. Zane Gbangbola was found dead in his bed in the early hours of 8 February 2014. His parents believe he may have died from inhaling highly toxic hydrogen cyanide gas that seeped into their home in floodwater from a nearby lake on a former landfill site. The inquest has heard a competing theory that Zane may have died from carbon monoxide poisoning, possibly from a petrol flood pump, which the family claimed not to have used.
Zane Gbangbola was found lifeless in bed in the early hours of 8 February 2014. His parents believe he may have died from inhaling highly toxic hydrogen cyanide gas that seeped into their home in floodwater from a nearby lake on a former landfill site. Describing the evening Zane died, Kye Gbangbola said his son and wife, Nicole Lawler, were watching television in an upstairs bedroom while he worked in another bedroom on a book he was writing and lectures he was due to give. “I don’t recall experiencing any symptoms. Whatever happened to me as a toxin was pretty instant,” Gbangbola told coroner Richard Travers. He said he had no memory of that evening “beyond the lovely memory of my angelic son with his mum”.
The inquest has heard a competing theory that Zane may have died from carbon monoxide poisoning, possibly from a petrol flood pump, which the family claimed not to have used.
Describing the evening Zane died, Kye Gbangbola said his son and wife, Nicole Lawler, were watching television in an upstairs bedroom while he worked in another bedroom on a book he was writing and lectures he was due to give.
“I don’t recall experiencing any symptoms. Whatever happened to me as a toxin was pretty instant,” Gbangbola told coroner Richard Travers. He said he had no memory of that evening “beyond the lovely memory of my angelic son with his mum”.
When he woke up in hospital, he said, “I was in a very sorry condition, completely confused, dazed, not aware of my surroundings other than my beautiful son Zane and Nicole saying that Zane had died. I couldn’t get my head around the whole thing. I just had no capacity whatsoever.”When he woke up in hospital, he said, “I was in a very sorry condition, completely confused, dazed, not aware of my surroundings other than my beautiful son Zane and Nicole saying that Zane had died. I couldn’t get my head around the whole thing. I just had no capacity whatsoever.”
Gbangbola said he was suffering an extreme skin reaction and drifting in and out of consciousness. “I was asking for proper toxicology to be done. I was shocked that people simply wanted to test me for heroin and cocaine,” he said. Gbangbola said he was suffering an extreme skin reaction and drifting in and out of consciousness. “I was asking for proper toxicology to be done. I was shocked that people simply wanted to test me for heroin and cocaine,” he said. His condition continued to deteriorate, with blisters starting on the nape of his neck, then spreading down his back, he said. His neck was so swollen it was “wider than my head”.
His condition continued to deteriorate, with blisters starting on the nape of his neck, then spreading down his back, he said. His neck was so swollen it was “wider than my head”. Gbangbola said: “About 12 hours later I started losing, slowly, sensation in my legs.” Within 24 hours of being admitted to hospital, he added, “I had no ability to use my legs.” He told the coroner he had asked several times a day for a diagnosis. But it was not until months later that one doctor diagnosed rhabdomyolysis caused by hydrogen cyanide poisoning, he said.
Gbangbola said: “About 12 hours later I started losing, slowly, sensation in my legs.” Within 24 hours of being admitted to hospital, he added, “I had no ability to use my legs.”
He told the coroner he had asked several times a day for a diagnosis. But it was not until months later that one doctor diagnosed rhabdomyolysis caused by hydrogen cyanide poisoning, he said.
Earlier in the inquest, neighbour Ian Berry described how, during the flood, fire officers woke him at home and warned him they had detected hydrogen cyanide, adding that if he had breathed it in he could have just 20 minutes to live.Earlier in the inquest, neighbour Ian Berry described how, during the flood, fire officers woke him at home and warned him they had detected hydrogen cyanide, adding that if he had breathed it in he could have just 20 minutes to live.
Berry told Woking coroner’s court he was later asked by a police officer not to talk to media. He said he and the officer were discussing “chemicals” when the officer told him: “We don’t want to scare [the] public and I’d ask you not to mention the hydrogen cyanide.” Berry told Woking coroner’s court he was later asked by a police officer not to talk to media. He said he and the officer were discussing “chemicals” when the officer told him: “We don’t want to scare [the] public and I’d ask you not to mention the hydrogen cyanide.” For two to three weeks after Zane’s death, Berry said, “people in biohazard suits with respirators on their backs” were coming into the schoolboy’s home.
For two to three weeks after Zane’s death, Berry said, “people in biohazard suits with respirators on their backs” were coming into the schoolboy’s home. Fire officers had woken him and his girlfriend twice that night, Berry said – on the first occasion to tell them some neighbours had fallen ill, though they were vague about possible causes, and again to tell them Zane had died and his parents had been hospitalised. On the second occasion, Berry said, “they [the fire officers] told us that they had made various tests and it was because of hydrogen cyanide coming through, to which I knew the word cyanide, but not the other thing.
Fire officers had woken him and his girlfriend twice that night, Berry said – on the first occasion to tell them some neighbours had fallen ill, though they were vague about possible causes, and again to tell them Zane had died and his parents had been hospitalised. “The fire officer said that it was serious and that if we had inhaled it, potentially it was in our system and it would be fatal within a period of 15-20 minutes. We were told to wait in our house.” Berry said he had then Googled hydrogen cyanide. He told the inquest: “It was the most horrific thing I have dealt with in my life. It was very surreal.”
On the second occasion, Berry said, “they [the fire officers] told us that they had made various tests and it was because of hydrogen cyanide coming through, to which I knew the word cyanide, but not the other thing. He and his then girlfriend sat quietly, exchanging numbers of relatives in case something happened and “having a hug and just hoping nothing would happen”. After 20 minutes had elapsed, they went outside. He said they, other neighbours, two police officers and two firefighters were taken to hospital for tests. Berry said he kept asking the doctors what they were being tested for. “One of them was for blood gases and it was a relatively painful injection – even the policeman winced a bit,” he told the coroner.
“The fire officer said that it was serious and that if we had inhaled it, potentially it was in our system and it would be fatal within a period of 15-20 minutes. We were told to wait in our house.”
Berry said he had then Googled hydrogen cyanide. He told the inquest: “It was the most horrific thing I have dealt with in my life. It was very surreal.”
He and his then girlfriend sat quietly, exchanging numbers of relatives in case something happened and “having a hug and just hoping nothing would happen”.
After 20 minutes had elapsed, they went outside. He said they, other neighbours, two police officers and two firefighters were taken to hospital for tests. Berry said he kept asking the doctors what they were being tested for. “One of them was for blood gases and it was a relatively painful injection – even the policeman winced a bit,” he told the coroner.
Berry said he and his girlfriend were given the all clear and allowed to go home. So worried was he after the event, Berry added, that he wanted to fit a gas membrane at his home, but it was too expensive. Even now, he told the coroner, “it is still a worry, because as soon as any water comes, even a puddle, I will just leave the house, and take the cat with me, and go to a hotel”.Berry said he and his girlfriend were given the all clear and allowed to go home. So worried was he after the event, Berry added, that he wanted to fit a gas membrane at his home, but it was too expensive. Even now, he told the coroner, “it is still a worry, because as soon as any water comes, even a puddle, I will just leave the house, and take the cat with me, and go to a hotel”.
Berry was asked by Alison Hewitt, counsel for the inquest, why he had mentioned carbon monoxide but not hydrogen cyanide in his police witness statement taken within hours of the incident. Berry was asked by Alison Hewitt, counsel for the inquest, why he had mentioned carbon monoxide but not hydrogen cyanide in his police witness statement taken within hours of the incident. Berry said the firefighters may have mentioned carbon monoxide the first time they woke him up. He said the police officer had condensed a one and a half hour conversation into a two-page statement.
Berry said the firefighters may have mentioned carbon monoxide the first time they woke him up. He said the police officer had condensed a one and a half hour conversation into a two-page statement.
He said he was “crystal clear” that firefighters warned him about hydrogen cyanide on the second occasion they woke him. Berry he had “100% recollection” of that conversation. “If someone tells you you’ve got 10-15 minutes or whatever to live, it focuses the mind.”He said he was “crystal clear” that firefighters warned him about hydrogen cyanide on the second occasion they woke him. Berry he had “100% recollection” of that conversation. “If someone tells you you’ve got 10-15 minutes or whatever to live, it focuses the mind.”
Questioned by Chris Coltart QC, representing Surrey Hire and Sales, from whom Zane’s parents hired the petrol pump, Berry admitted he had spoken briefly to Lawler about the inquest.Questioned by Chris Coltart QC, representing Surrey Hire and Sales, from whom Zane’s parents hired the petrol pump, Berry admitted he had spoken briefly to Lawler about the inquest.
Coltart asked him if “out of misguided sympathy and affection” for his neighbours he had “tailored his account”.Coltart asked him if “out of misguided sympathy and affection” for his neighbours he had “tailored his account”.
“No, I haven’t,” replied Berry.“No, I haven’t,” replied Berry.
The hearing continues.The hearing continues.