An untimely tragedy took the lives of two foreign women this week after they started vomiting, experienced nausea and breathing difficulties while staying at a backpackers’ hostel in Kollupitiya, Colombo.
One was a 24-year-old British woman who died after being rushed to the hospital on February 3, while the other was a 26-year-old German woman, who succumbed to a similar illness on the same day. The German man is currently receiving treatment.
The British national and a German couple shared the same room at the Miracle Colombo City Hostel, which they checked into on January 30 and 31.
The British woman, Ebony McIntosh from Derby, was said to be on her dream vacation when she lost her life. Ebony was a social media influencer with over 10,000 followers on Instagram and regularly posted about fashion and her travels around the world.
Toxic gas
It is believed that they were both exposed to phosphine – a toxic gas that is produced after aluminium phosphide, a common insecticide, reacts with moisture.
It is reported that the room the tourists were staying in was recently fumigated with Aluminium Phosphide. The chemical is used indoors to kill pests such as bedbugs. It is said that their room was sealed for 72 hours after the fumigation on January 30.
In light of these events, the Kollupitiya police submitted a report to the court, leading to the hostel’s closure order under the Criminal Procedure Code No. 15 of 1979 requiring the establishment to meet health standards and obtain proper permits before reopening.
The Miracle Colombo City Hostel
On Thursday (6), reservations on Booking.com were still open for the Miracle Colombo City Hostel; however, the reception desk said that the hostel remained closed despite it being listed on the website. By Friday, Booking.com showed that all check-ins have been cancelled till February 28.
The Miracle Colombo City Hostel opened its doors last year following a massive refurbishment of the building. The hostel is also close to many places of interest in Colombo-3 such as the Liberty Roundabout, the beachfront and Temple Trees. The hostel has many great reviews with 7.1 rating on Booking.com.
The Kollupitiya police HQI told the Sunday Observer that before the cause of death can be determined, the family of the victim should arrive for the post-mortem examination or they should give someone the power of attorney to do so. “We have also contacted the relevant embassies, and the process can be followed through when we get that clearance. The hotel is closed temporarily following a court order. We have sent samples to the Government Analyst, Judicial Medical Officer and Ministry of Health officials”.
The bodies are currently at the Colombo National Hospital morgue.
Meanwhile, the Government Analyst Department’s toxicology laboratory said that investigations are under way to determine what caused the toxic reaction and that they are unsure if this was a case of phosphine poisoning .
Phosphine gas
Phosphine gas is a colourless, flammable, and highly toxic gas that can cause severe health issues, including death. Phosphine is also extremely flammable and explosive; it may ignite spontaneously on contact, with air. Phosphine has a fish or garlic-like odour, but may not provide adequate warning of hazardous concentrations.
Most cases of phosphine poisoning happen via inhalation. Phosphine is heavier than air and may cause asphyxiation in enclosed, poorly ventilated, or low-lying areas.
Children exposed to the same levels of phosphine as adults may receive a larger dose due to their small physique. They may be exposed to higher levels than adults in the same location because of their short stature and the higher levels of phosphine found nearer to the ground.
The gas may be absorbed through broken skin. Phosphine produces no adverse effects on the skin or eyes, and contact does not result in systemic toxicity, however Ingestion of phosphine is unlikely because it is a gas at room temperature.
The main symptoms of phosphine poisoning are related to cardiovascular and respiratory systems and include restlessness, irritability, drowsiness, tremors, cough, difficulty breathing, abdominal pain, and vomiting.
Phosphine is responsible for hundreds of thousands of deaths annually in countries where access to the pesticide is unrestricted.
The young Ebony’s family is devastated over the news of her death. Earlier this week, British media reported that Ebony’s younger sister India launched a GoFundMe page to help the grieving family travel to Sri Lanka and bring her sister’s body home. The fund goal of GPB 40,000 had been reached by Friday.
India posted a tribute on her social media: To my Ebony, my beautiful sister, thank you, thank you for being my older sister, one better than I could’ve ever asked for. I want you home now tho sis pls come back! It would only be you that would go out living your best life in Sri Lanka…I am truly heartbroken, I can’t believe I am writing this, it feels like some nightmare I haven’t woken up from yet, we will get justice for you, you had so much life left to live. My heart aches I need you here, we all need you. Let’s get you home Ebony.
On Friday (7), a spokesman for the British High Commission in Sri Lanka told the Sunday Observer that the McIntosh family is receiving consular support.
Cautionary tale
As tourism in Sri Lanka experiences a recovery following the major downturn after the Easter Sunday attacks, Covid-19 pandemic and the economic crisis, this mishap should be a cautionary tale for all stakeholders in the industry to follow best practices.
A leading pest control company based in Colombo said that fumigation is done according to very strict regulations. “There is a thorough analysis before these chemicals can be used in fumigation. This risk assessment is used to determine if the chemicals could affect people nearby and if the gas could leak to surroundings,” the Manager said.
According to hospitality industry expert, a room that has been fumigated should remain closed for a certain amount of time before it can be occupied by a guest.
“Sometimes this can take a couple of days, sometimes a week; according to the chemicals used. A room, under no circumstance, should be made available to a guest right after it has been fumigated,” he said.
The Government has strict guidelines on the use of harmful chemicals and issue approvals accordingly on who can use it; any treatment should follow those guidelines. The deaths of young Ebony and the unnamed German woman highlight the need for better safety regulations in Sri Lanka’s tourism sector. As the island is poised to attract millions of visitors this year, incidents such as this could tarnish its reputation as a safe travel destination.
The authorities, hospitality industry and regulatory bodies should work together to uphold health and safety standards and ensure that our foreign visitors can explore Sri Lanka without fear.
