Louise (44) and her daughter Deborah (23) died after CO poisoning in Wilrijk: “Horrifying case where people were looking for alternatives to heating” (Wilrijk)

The Antwerp police were sent to the Lijsterbeslei in Wilrijk because Louise (44) and her daughter Deborah (23) could not be reached. “The intervention team decided to enter the house. The inspectors’ CO meters immediately sounded an alarm,” said spokesperson Wouter Bruyns of the Antwerp police.

Police found the bodies of both victims inside the home. They were evacuated outside and the rushed medical services took over CPR, but unfortunately all help for Louise and Deborah came too late.

The women died of CO poisoning, possibly caused by a smoldering barbecue in the house. “The fire brigade has ventilated the affected building,” says Bruyns. The relatives were offered victim care.

A boy next door worked with Deborah in the Colruyt. “She was incredibly sweet and helpful. At work she always provided a cheerful note and team spirit. It’s just really weird to realize she’s gone.”

Watchful

It is nothing new that we must always be vigilant about carbon monoxide. A poorly maintained boiler can already cause you to contract CO intoxication. “If you notice that you have a tendency to vomit, get a headache, are suddenly tired or are dizzy, you must remove yourself from the room as soon as possible,” said spokesman Kristof Geens.

“In that case, get yourself to safety immediately. Go outside, open windows and doors and call 911 as soon as possible for emergency services. The moment you notice the symptoms, you are already intoxicated. Then you have to go to the hospital anyway for further follow-up. But by all means avoid falling unconscious.”

Geens does not want to say too much about the case in Wilrijk for the time being, because the investigation is ongoing, but he does say that it was an alternative to ‘cheap heating’. “This is really harrowing. We look at the coming winter with fear at the fire brigade. With the energy crisis, people are looking for alternatives to heat themselves in a cheap way. Setting up a barbecue in the house is never a good idea. Not to barbecue and not to warm you.”

The fire brigade wants to use this period to make people think about what they are doing this winter. “Don’t use alternatives or obsolete heaters, like kerosene heaters. In recent weeks we have also regularly seen the flower pots with the tea lights in the media, they are also dangerous. And certainly don’t make an open fire inside or use very cheap heating devices. Those things can just as easily cause you to become intoxicated with carbon monoxide.”