A man in his 50s died and seven others where treated by medics after a suspected carbon monoxide leak at a takeaway restaurant in Bloxwich, Walsall, on Friday night.
Emergency services were called to the burger shop on Cresswell Crescent at approximately 9:40pm. Police confirmed the man was pronounced dead at the scene. Of the seven individuals treated, some were emergency workers, and a number were taken to hospital.
Local residents were evacuated from nearby homes and businesses as a precaution. They were permitted to return after tests were completed around 3am on Saturday.
Cara Jackson, 23, an employee at the neighbouring One Stop convenience store, witnessed the aftermath. “There were three ambulances, four cop cars, a fire engine and the forensics obviously came after,” she told the PA news agency. “I did see them doing CPR… I did see everything that happened. I’ve scarred a little. I don’t realy feel the best today as obviously I breathed it all in.”
Local ward councillor Michael Coulson stated on Facebook that firefighters initially had difficulty accessing the property due to a generator “releasing a mixture of gases.”
In a Saturday update, Councillor Coulson reported, “After tests were completed residents were allowed back in their homes at roughly 3am, and the shops are back open this morning. There is now a very small police presence and I thanked them for their support.” He added, ”I had done two litter picks around the shops in the last few days, including one completed just after 7pm last night, and I briefly spoke to those setting up the takeaway on both occasions. It’s so incredibly tragic what has happened.”
