All's well that ends well 
2003 Reader Submission
Pending Acceptance
From The Belize Times
http://www.belizetimes.bz/news/story/718.shtml
16 year old Freddy Monterroso, his older brother Juan Monterroso and 35 year old Benito Chable, all of Corozal, Paraiso died yesterday after they inhaled poisonous gases.
Tuesday morning the three men were cleaning a 15-foot deep well, which they had been using to dump garbage into.
Five days ago the men had ignited the garbage, in the well because they wanted to clean the well, which apparently they were planning to use for its normal purpose, to hold potable water.
They poured kerosene into the well and ignited it to burn the garbage and Tuesday they planned to clean out the well.
Investigations reveal that the men had entered the well to clean it when after a while the men began experiencing breathing difficulties and fell unconscious.
The Monterroso brothers fell face down and a small amount of water, which was still in the bottom and covered a portion of their face, preventing them from breathing.
Chable fell face up and was the only one able to breathe, but remained unconscious.
A while later someone noticed the men motionless in the well and called for them but they did not respond to calls. The police were immediately summoned for help.
Soon after, medical officers, BEL authorities, BDF personnel, the Fire Department authorities, the Pesticide Control Board authorities, PAHO authorities, and members of the Ministry of Health arrived on the scene.
Apparently the men did not know that after they had ignited the garbage in the well with kerosene, poisonous gas would form as a result of the air space.
The men went into the well and were stifled by the gas that had formed. The two Monterroso brothers died later after they fell unconscious into the water and drowned.
However, Chable was still alive but was unable to be rescued since it was too risky and difficult to get into the well.
After about an hour of deliberation a pump was put into the well, which blew out the poisonous gas after which a rescue team with masks went into the well with ropes, tied the bodies and were pulled up by all those in the vicinity. Chable had survived but was still unconscious.
He was taken to the hospital where he died about two hours later. He died as a result of inhaling toxic gases.
Unofficial information we received today says that Chable died because he inhaled either ammonia or carbon monoxide, or sulfur dioxide, and other poisonous gases, which are formed after materials such as pesticides and plastic containers usually found in garbage are burnt.
Also harmed was a police officer but he survived after being taken to the hospital and treated. Today he is in healthy condition.
Investigations still continue today to officially ascertain the type of gas that was responsible for the deaths of three Corozaleņos.
Several agencies such as the Pesticide Control Board, the Ministry of Health, PAHO and the Police are conducting several analyses in the area.
Submitted on 06/12/2002
Submitted by:
Dave Korpi
Reference:
Belize Times Website
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