Carbon monoxide poisoning is suspected in the deaths of a restaurant owner, his wife and their adult son, who were pulled from their Brampton home early Monday morning.
The victims were identified as 60-year-old Peter Pitamber, who owns Calypso Hut, his 59-year-old wife Seeta and their 36-year-old son Terry.
Two men, Peter Pitamber's brother and a family friend, were hospitalized in non-life-threatening condition.
Peel Regional Police believe the carbon monoxide fumes were emitted by at least one portable propane heater that was being used inside the home after the family's furnace broke down Sunday amid the cold weather.
The "salamander" heater is not intended for indoor use, said police spokeswoman Const. Fiona Thivierge.
The heater was turned on Sunday night and emergency personnel were notified at about 2 a.m. Monday when the couple's 29-year-old son, Jerry, returned home and found the victims unconscious in the house on Linden Crescent, near Dixie Road and Queen Street.
“I came home and I tried to save all of them but it didn’t work. Everybody was just knocked out,” Jerry Pitamber said.
A carbon monoxide alarm was sounding inside the house, where firefighters detected extremely high readings.
Peter, Seeta and Terry Pitamber were found on the main floor, while the two men who survived were found in the basement, Thivierge told reporters at the scene.
Jerry Pitamber said his uncle was conscious but unstable.
"He kept wobbling and falling. He fell about three times," Jerry Pitamber said.
Paramedics transported all five occupants to hospital, where Peter, Seeta and Terry Pitamber were pronounced dead.
Coroner takes over investigation
Thivierge said the chief coroner’s office has taken over the investigation because the incident is not believed to be criminal in nature.
“He will be conducting autopsies to determine exactly the cause of death but right now everything’s pointing towards carbon monoxide,” she said.
Described as a “silent killer,” carbon monoxide (CO) is an odourless and colourless gas that is emitted when fossil fuels are burned.
When inhaled, the gas interrupts the distribution of oxygen in the blood. Very high levels can cause death.
Early warning signs include fatigue, headache, disorientation, nausea and dizziness, and they are sometimes confused with the flu or food poisoning, the City of Brampton says on its website.
The city warns people not to use unvented gas or kerosene space heaters in enclosed spaces. People should call a certified repair company if their furnace breaks down, firefighters say.
People who think they are suffering from carbon monoxide poisoning should immediately leave the building they are in and call 911.
If a CO detector sounds, people should leave the building and call 911 from outside. People should not re-enter the building until the problem is identified and resolved.
Carbon monoxide detectors should be installed on every level of a home, especially near bedrooms, and people should hire a qualified service technician to inspect and clean fuel-burning appliances, furnaces vent pipes and chimney flues once a year.
With files from CTV News.
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