Elderly man passed out before dying - autopsy

The elderly man found dead shortly after a fire was put out in a house in Ta' Majża Alley in Nadur last Friday probably passed out before he was engulfed by the flames.

Sources said pathologists conducting an autopsy on Francis Said's body last Saturday found a considerable amount of carbon monoxide, a highly toxic gas, in his blood.

Carbon monoxide is impossible to detect without any equipment because it is colourless, odourless, tasteless and does not cause any irritation. Produced by burning organic matter in a limited oxygen supply, it can kill a person within minutes of passing out.

However, because of the nature of the burns on the body, the sources said pathologists could not determine whether the 79-year-old died by carbon monoxide poisoning or by burning.

The police said last Friday that the bedridden man was found lying lifeless in bed by officers after firemen extinguished a blaze reported by neighbours.

The sources said Mr Said was a heavy smoker and had a gas and an electric heater by his bed. It is being theorised that he fell asleep and the cigarette he held loosely between his lips fell onto the bed covers. He was found lying face up and propped against pillows. There were no indications he was trying to shield himself in any way from the fire and his lighter was still on his chest.

"Only the lower part of his body was burnt which meant that if he were still conscious when he caught fire he would have tried to put out the flames," the sources said.