Man dead, seven treated after suspected carbon monoxide poisoning at takeaway

Locals were evacuated from nearby houses and shops

A man died and seven others have been treated by medics after a suspected carbon monoxide leak at a takeaway restaurant.

The man in his 50s died at the scene in Bloxwich, Walsall, on Friday, West Midlands Police said.

Locals were evacuated from nearby houses and shops after emergency services were called to the burger shop in Cresswell Crescent around 9.40pm.

Cara Jackson, 23, who was working at the neighbouring One Stop convenience store and who lives nearby, said: “There were three ambulances, four cop cars, a fire engine and the forensics obviously came after.

“I did see them doing CPR… I did see everything that happened.

“I’ve scarred a little. I don’t really feel the best today because obviously I breathed it all in.”

West Midlands Police responded to the incident (PA)

She and her colleague were evacuated from the shop while tests were performed.

“I didn’t really sleep last night,” Ms Jackson, who lives by the shop, said.

“I wasn’t like scared to sleep but … the fire brigade told us we’re lucky because if we went to sleep last night we wouldn’t have woke back up.”

Among the seven people treated were unspecified emergency service workers. Some of the seven were taken to hospital, police said.

The people who were evacuated from surrounding properties were able to return in the early hours of Saturday following tests.

Local ward councillor Michael Coulson wrote on Facebook that the fire service was called out because an injured person needed assistance but firefighters were unable to access the property because a generator was “releasing a mixture of gases”.

On Saturday, he posted in an update: “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.

“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.”