Gas flames, closed spaces, and hypoxia.

ABSTRACT

The investigation of the deaths of an elderly couple found in a small hotel room that was tightly sealed and heated by an open flame gas heater is presented. Autopsy and toxicologic studies did not reveal a definitive cause of death. Subsequent research and an experiment to duplicate the conditions support the contention that the cause of death was hypoxia due to oxygen depletion by the gas flame.