KOTA Marudu Police Chief Supt Zairolnizal Ishak confirmed receiving a report regarding hydrocarbon (spirit) poisoning involving 20 students from a secondary school here.
He said results of interviews with witnesses among the students treated in the hospital stated that one of them bought a bottle of a popular carbonated energy drink and two bottles of (liquid) spirit from a shop near the school on Wednesday at about 1pm, with the aim of mixing the two to attain the same effect as drinking alcohol.
At 2pm, Zairolnizal said two of the students had mixed the spirit with the carbonated drink and drank in a big group in the dormitory room. The idea of mixing the drink came from one of them.
“Immediately after drinking the mixture, three students experienced stomach ache and complained of being unwell to the dormitory warden who took them to the Pinggan-Pinggan Community Clinic for examination and treatment. Later they were allowed to return and were asked to come back to the clinic if their symptoms got worse.
“On Thursday (June 8) at about 6.30am, the first case was brought to the emergency unit of Pitas Hospital involving two students who suffered from muscle spasms, panting and GCS readings became very weak and were treated through intubation,” he said.
According to Zairolnizal, based on a Medical Officer’s testimony, the hospital initially suspected that the symptoms were methanol intoxication from any alcoholic liquid. However, the case was classified as hydrocarbon (spirit) poisoning since it is petroleum-based after the bottle of spirit given by the victims.
“A supermarket employee confirmed that a student came to the store wanting to buy the liquid spirit. The student also bought a bottle of carbonated energy drink along with two bottles of spirit.
“So far there is no evidence that can link the case to any criminal elements,” he said.
