Mayo house fire victim died from carbon monoxide poisoning
The late Dusan Ivan.
A man who lost his life in a Ballina house fire died from carbon monoxide poisoning, an inquest was told.
The inquest into the death of 41-year old Dusan Ivan was opened at Ballina Courthouse today.
Mr Ivan died following a house fire at his Tolan Street apartment on July 11 this year. The inquest heard an investigation into the cause of the fire is ongoing, Sgt Sean McHale said Mr Ivan was a single man who lived alone in the apartment located over Boyle Sports bookmakers in the town.
The alarm was raised by a neighbour at 8.30am in the morning and the emergency services discovered Mr Ivan’s body on the floor of the apartment.
Consultant Pathologist, Dr Fadel Bennani, carried out the postmortem. He said Mr Ivan’s larynx was full of carbon monoxide due to soot. Further investigation revealed there was 65% carbon monoxide in his blood. Dr Bennani said 35% and above can cause death. The results of a toxicology report are still awaited.
Dr Bennani gave the cause of death as carbon monoxide poisoning due to a house fire.
Sgt McHale said the Slovakian native was a hugely popular figure in Ballina and in Westport where he worked as a bouncer in a local nightclub.
Sgt McHale said his popularity was clearly evident given the huge number of floral and online tributes following Mr Ivan's sad passing.
“He was always a gentleman,” Sgt McHale added.
The full hearing of the inquest was adjourned until the completion of the Garda investigation into the cause of the fire.
