Inquest into boy's 'plainly unlawful' carbon monoxide death in shower
A coronial inquest is underway in New Zealand regarding the 2018 death of 12-year-old Jesse Samuel due to carbon monoxide poisoning from an improperly installed shower heater. The mother is seeking accountability for the preventable tragedy, which has already resulted in fines for the responsible gasfitter and company.
Why it matters
The case underscores the critical importance of safety regulations and professional accountability in construction and plumbing services.
The mother of an Otago boy who died from carbon monoxide poisoning in a shower has told a coronial inquest she will never think of his death as an accident because it was preventable. <b>By Katie Todd </b><a href="https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/regions/873808/inquest-begins-into-plainly-unlawful-carbon-monoxide-death-of-12-year-old-jesse-samuel" target="_blank"><b>of RNZ</b></a> Jesse Samuel, 12, died at his family's bach in Haast in October 2018. At an inquest in Queenstown, coroner Mary-Anne Borrowdale is examining what she calls the "plainly unlawful" circumstances of Jesse's death and what could be done to prevent something similar happening in future. Jesse's mother Justine Walker told the court her son had his whole life ahead of him and it had been eight long years waiting for the inquest. "I know today will never give Jesse his life back, his future, his dreams, his goals.
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