Gene Hackman dead: Warning signs of carbon monoxide poisoning exposed after Hollywood tragedy

At their home, Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy Arakawa were feared to have had carbon monoxide poisoning, which has since earned the eerie moniker “stealth assassin” (stealth assassin).

Unlike natural gas, carbon monoxide (CO) is colourless, odorless, and tasteless, making it impossible to detect without a specialised device. Inhaling it, from various sources including generators, water heaters, and gas stoves, can prove fatal within minutes.

Gene, Betsy, and their dog, Gene, who also passed away, were initially thought to be having died from carbon monoxide poisoning, but investigations into the Santa Fe, New Mexico home have revealed no gas leaks.

On Wednesday afternoon, local time, Gene and Betsy were discovered dead. They had been married for nearly 34 years. The Oscar winner, aged 95, has been remembered by stars such as Piers Morgan, Lorraine Kelly, and George Takei.

As Gene’s daughter said police have not ruled anything out, The Mirror this morning outlines how CO poisoning has earned the tags of “stealth assassin”, “silent killer” and “the invisible enemy”. When CO enters the lungs and diffuses into the bloodstream, it replaces oxygen in the blood, preventing it from reaching tissues and organs, including the heart.

The body goes into hypoxia, the state of lacking oxygen. First, the heart and brain are first, because they produce the most oxygen from all tissues and organs. Without oxygen, brain cells shrivel and die within minutes.

It is simple to mistake something for asymptomatic and dismissed, which will most likely prolong exposure to the toxic gas. These include an upset stomach, dizziness and confusion.

Shawn Galloway, an occupational safety expert, said: “Some of the initial symptoms are just a slight headache, you could feel a little foggy with a little confusion. You could feel a little weak, but think about just you didn’t get enough sleep at night, or you just feel kind of crummy, but it could go all the way to the extreme of seizures, chest pain, the fogginess could lead to difficulty in moving, walking”.

CO can seep into the air by gas stoves, currently in use in millions of households, notably across the US. Wood-burning fireplaces or heaters can cause CO poisoning, as can broken water heaters and clogged chimneys. Gas-powered dryers may let off CO.

According to Mr. Galloway, CO poisoning causes very little time for recovery when exposure occurs, either intentionally or unintentionally. Organs and tissues begin to suffocate when CO binds to hemoglobin, a protein found in red blood cells that transport oxygen from the lungs to the rest of the body.

But the deaths of Gene and Betsy are still being investigated. An autopsy report’s completion and publication could take four to six weeks.

Source: Mirror