[WATCH] One dead, another hospitalised from toxic fumes in Msida

A man suffocated to death from carbon monoxide poisoning and another was rushed to hospital in critical condition after using a barbecue inside their Msida apartment.

MaltaToday is informed that the victim is Sita Fofana, a Malian national who worked as a plasterer. He was one of nine Malian men who lived in the apartment on Achille Ferris Street, opposite the Msida Skatepark, sharing four bedrooms amongst them.

One of the man’s flatmates Issa Doumbia told MaltaToday that Fofana had been feeling cold and had used the barbecue as a heater to warm up his bedroom. Doumbia said he left the house to go to work as usual this morning and had no idea that something was wrong until he received a phonecall that his flatmate had died.

Police received the call for assistance at about 8am and Fofana’s body was taken away by a police hearse some three hours later, as his former flatmates watched on emotionally.

A magisterial inquiry, led by magistrate Neville Camilleri. has been launched to investigate the incident.