Tragic cause of death revealed for three US tourists found dead in Belize hotel
Toxicology reports for three American tourists found dead at a luxury hotel in Belize last month confirm their deaths were caused by ‘fatal exposure to carbon monoxide poisoning’, DailyMail.com can reveal.
Kaoutar Naqqad, 23, Imane Mallah, 24, and Wafae El Arar, 26, were found dead inside their room at the Royal Kahal Beach Resort in San Pedro on February 22.
A toxicology examination has now confirmed the fatal condition was triggered by exposure to carbon monoxide poisoning, Belize’s National Forensic Service confirmed on Wednesday evening.
Local police believe a malfunctioning water heater in the women’s room may have been to blame.
Each of the women registered carbon monoxide saturation levels of around 60 percent. Saturation levels of 40 percent are enough to cause death.
Belizean authorities suggested within hours of the women being found dead that they had likely died of a drug overdose, claiming initial tests for carbon monoxide exposure at the hotel had found nothing untoward.
The release of the toxicology report came within 48 hours of the women’s families releasing a statement, casting doubt on the integrity of Belizian authorities and urging them to conduct a fair and transparent investigation.