Residents in the Piraeus neighborhood are in shock, where yesterday morning a 28-year-old man and a 24-year-old woman met a tragic death inside a parked vehicle, which was located in a garage on Milou Street.

Neighbors say it was the heart-wrenching cries of the grief-stricken parents that made them realize something terrible had happened. “I realized something was wrong from their screams… Her mother was screaming, crying out, ‘I’ve lost my daughter…’ What else could that woman say? It’s a terrible tragedy,” a local resident told ERT, her description deeply moving.

“I went down late; I went down around 10:30 or 11… I saw his father and his mother… They’d left the car running, and apparently something happened with the fumes,” said another local resident.

SEE ALSO: Deaths in a vehicle in Piraeus: Engine fumes that “entered” the air conditioning system—the possibility being investigated

The young couple was found by the 28-year-old’s father, who found the couple unconscious inside the car and, at around 9:15 a.m., immediately notified the police and the ambulance service (EKAV).

He attempted to administer first aid, performing CPR, but the emergency responders who arrived at the scene determined that the two young people had died.

According to reports, authorities have ruled out the possibility of foul play, as the couple showed no visible injuries. Investigations are now focusing on the possibility of an accident and that their deaths were caused by the vehicle’s exhaust fumes.

At the same time, the same reports indicate that the vehicle in which they were found reportedly had the engine and air conditioning running, while the garage door was closed. Consequently, investigators are examining the possibility that fumes from the engine entered the car’s interior through the air conditioning system, causing the two young people to lose consciousness.

Piraeus: “It was likely an accident”

“Carbon monoxide, which is essentially the poison, is an odorless gas. However, exhaust fumes have a very strong smell. This is a contradictory factor. In other words, of course they noticed that the exhaust fumes were entering the vehicle. It’s impossible not to notice it entering the vehicle. It’s very likely that it wasn’t properly assessed—it could be an accident, or it could be something else entirely. I think the investigation needs to be completed so we can get a full picture of exactly what we’re dealing with. In any case, let’s say that carbon monoxide is a gas that essentially, gradually, puts you into a lethargic state—drowsiness at first, then lethargy— at which point death occurs very smoothly,” said medical examiner Dimitris Galenteris, who spoke to MEGA about the case of the two young people’s deaths in Piraeus.

“There are stages, of course. There’s a headache, a feeling of discomfort. Possibly, a tendency to vomit or an abdominal ache. And then we move toward lethargy. We don’t skip the stages. These stages exist. The time it takes to lose consciousness depends on the concentration of carbon monoxide in the air. I believe the most likely explanation is an accident. “Since there is no other evidence, it’s best to… wait for the police investigation to be completed so we can get a full picture of the circumstances,” he added.

“In the case of the brazier, combustion is complete, there is no carbon monoxide produced, and the occupants fall asleep. As a result, the brazier goes out, and carbon monoxide builds up while they’re asleep. This is the typical scenario in which they are unaware of the presence of carbon monoxide, and thus end up being exposed to it while they sleep. Here, it’s completely different—it’s possibly the reverse—because here you first have the presence of exhaust fumes, and then sleep, lethargy, and death follow. Poisoning must be verified; that is, samples must be taken so that a specialized test can be conducted to confirm that this is indeed the cause of death, and a broader toxicological more comprehensive toxicological analysis to see if any other substances might be detected. “In any case, based on the information available so far, there are no injuries, so a violent—or at least traumatic—death has been ruled out,” Mr. Galenteris continued.

The 28-year-old was a young lawyer

According to reports, the deceased are the 28-year-old lawyer who lived in the apartment building where the tragedy occurred and his 24-year-old partner, a law clerk.

The 28-year-old was particularly well-liked in the neighborhood, and the tragic news of his death has come as a shock.

With an impressive resume and significant academic and professional achievements, he worked at a large law firm, having already distinguished himself for his abilities and professional achievements, despite his young age.

Young Iasonas was a member of the “DRACON” soccer team of the Athens Bar Association.

Source: In.gr