‘Chemical drums’ found near home of boy killed by poisonous gas
GOVERNMENT investigators removed ‘chemical drums’ found at a flooded landfill site near the home of a schoolboy who died from poison gas, an inquest heard.
Zane Gbangbola, seven, died in his sleep at his home in 2014. His father, Kye, 50, was paralysed by hydrogen cyanide poisoning, according to doctors.
Police, Environment Agency officials and local authorities have ruled out family claims that Zane was killed by cyanide gas, and say he died from carbon monoxide fumes from a petrolpowered pump hired to clear floodwater from their home in Chertsey, Surrey. A post-mortem examination was inconclusive and the inquest has heard that blood tests taken from Zane and his parents were later lost by doctors. Now a coroner has heard two 45-gallon chemical drums were discovered floating in a lake at the landfill site days after the tragedy.
Mr Gbangbola showed the coroner photos of a team in orange helmets in a dinghy at the site, and large brown shapes at the water’s edge. He said these were drums being collected by an Environment Agency hazardous material team. The Agency has not yet responded to the claim in court.
The coroner has heard that fire crews recorded readings for hydrogen cyanide in the house. Paramedics called to the scene have said there were no exhaust fumes in the house.
The hearing continues.