Tragedy in Vienna: 28-year-old dies of smoke poisoning in the basement!

Tragedy in Vienna: 28-year-old dies of smoke poisoning in the basement!

In Vienna, investigations were intensified after the tragic death of a 28-year-old Ukrainian. The man was discovered in a burning basement of an office building primarily used by the Roman Catholic Church. According to media reports, the fire department was called at 11 p.m. to extinguish the fire, which lasted until 3 a.m. During the extinguishing work, the man's lifeless body was found and declared dead by the Vienna professional rescue service despite immediate resuscitation measures, as Kleine Zeitung reports.

The man's autopsy revealed smoke inhalation, which was identified as the cause of death. Soot particles were found in the deceased's lungs. Police also determined that a superficial injury found on the man's body may have been caused by an accident. Contrary to initial reports of stabbings, this is not the case. The exact circumstances why the 28-year-old was in the basement remain unclear. His mother reported that her son was out with friends but didn't come home. The man's friends and acquaintances are questioned and his cell phone is used for analysis.

Cause of fire and investigation

The Vienna State Criminal Police Office has started investigating the cause of the fire. The morning after the first fire, around 11:00 a.m., another fire broke out, indicating the possibility of embers. The basement remains filled with smoke, making the investigators' work more difficult. The fire brigade and police initially had to wait because the basement was inaccessible. Only after the building had been ventilated were the officials able to carry out their investigations, as reported by 5min.

Smoke inhalation and safety information

Smoke inhalation is often the cause of fatal fire accidents. In fact, most fire victims die not from direct burns, but from the effects of smoke. According to information from BFB CIPI, these consist of harmful gases and particles that are produced during combustion, such as carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide. Carbon dioxide is odorless and can quickly lead to a life-threatening situation. The first symptoms of smoke inhalation are tearing, coughing and shortness of breath, which can have serious health consequences.

The tragedy in the basement of a Viennese office building not only raises questions about the circumstances of the fire, but also highlights the great dangers associated with smoke inhalation. Preventive measures, such as installing smoke detectors, are critical to reducing the risk to all residents.