3 US tourists found dead in Belize died of carbon monoxide poisoning after initial suggestions that the victims, Kaoutar Naqqad, 23; Imane Mallah, 24; and Wafae El-Arar, 26, may have died from drug overdose. The Royal Kahal Beach Resort in San Pedro where the woman died remains closed, with the potential of re-opening soon.
The three young American women found dead at a Belize beach resort last month died from ‘fatal exposure to carbon monoxide poisoning,’ according to a new toxicology report. The results comes despite Belize officials initially suggesting the women may have died as a result of drug overdose.
Kaoutar Naqqad, 23; Imane Mallah, 24; and Wafae El-Arar, 26 — all from Revere, Massachusetts — were found dead inside their room at the Royal Kahal Beach Resort in San Pedro on Feb. 22.
How did US tourists at Belize resort die of carbon monoxide poisoning?
A toxicology report from Belize’s National Forensic Service reveals the 3 women had a build-up of fluid in the lungs known as acute pulmonary edema, which was triggered by the carbon monoxide exposure, WCVB reported.
The American tourists were all exposed to carbon monoxide before their deaths, with each victim registering carbon monoxide saturation levels of around 60% — with a fatal level being 40%, the report said.
Carboxyhemoglobin (carbon monoxide saturation) levels are typically lower than 2% in nonsmokers and lower than 5% in smokers, according to the National Library of Medicine.
Carbon monoxide is a fatal odorless, colorless gas; gas- and oil-burning furnaces, portable generators and charcoal grills produce it, among other common items, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Police believe the U.S tourists may have been exposed to carbon monoxide from a faulty water heater in their hotel room.
US tourists found dead in Belize hotel room cover-up?
Belize Police Commissioner Chester Williams said their bodies showed no signs of injury, while noting there was vomit next to each victim.
While authorities found alcohol and gummies in their hotel room, toxicology tests revealed no drugs in their bodies. Authorities had initially suggested, drug overdose as the cause of death of the tourists.
The grieving women’s families thanked authorities for reexamining the case and dismissing initial claims that drugs were to blame.
‘While we remain shattered by the loss of these three bright lights in our world, we are incredibly heartened by the results of this investigation and grateful to those who completed it in a thorough and independent manner,’ they said in a statement Wednesday.
‘While today’s official finding puts to rest those initial [drug] reports, we hope this will give authorities in law enforcement pause before they make similar suggestions during future investigations.
‘Survivors such as our families deserve their best, honest work. We received it today but needed it throughout this investigative process.
Does Belize resort bear liability for US tourists carbon monoxide deaths?
‘Our families and others who may have been harmed at this hotel deserve a full accounting of what happened, how this investigation was handled by officials and hotel management.
‘We are grateful to all of the friends, family, leaders here in Massachusetts, in the United States and in Belize along with the local and international media, who continued to put pressure on Belizean authorities to complete this investigation in a timely and honest manner.
‘Our families ask for continued prayers, patience, and privacy as we navigate this unimaginable loss. May their beautiful souls rest in eternal peace. We will forever love and miss you, Kaoutar, Imane and Wafae.’
In a separate statement, the Royal Kahal Beach Resort sent their condolences to the families of the women killed and added, ‘From the time this isolated tragedy was discovered, we have been taking all possible steps to ensure that the Resort is safe, and it has been reopened for guests since March 19.’
‘We have worked with the Belizean government, and authorities have conducted multiple careful assessments of every unit on the property,’ the resort said. ‘These assessments have found no further indication of dangerous levels of carbon monoxide in any of the units. This tragedy has deeply affected all of us at the Royal Kahal Beach Resort.’
It remained unclear if the resort would now bear any pecuniary liability for the women’s deaths. Nor how the tragedy came to happen in the first place and whether the women’s deaths could have been averted.
Belize Tourism Minister Anthony Mahler told Channel 5 Belize that the hotel shut down voluntarily and was implementing ‘remedial actions.’
The resort which continued to remain closed, could reopen with permission from government authorities, he said.
A separate review of the cause of death of the three women is set to be done by authorities in Massachusetts.
