Students fall ill after drinking suspected spirit-infused beverages

PITAS - Two Form Five students are in critical condition, while another 18 students are receiving treatment after consuming carbonated drinks suspected to be mixed with spirit at a secondary school in the district.

According to reports, the students consumed the mixed drink, leading to hydrocarbon (spirit) poisoning last Tuesday.

Kota Marudu district police chief Superintendent Zairolnizal Ishak said Pitas Hospital alerted the department that 20 students had been admitted to the emergency ward.

During the investigation, it was revealed that one of the students had purchased one bottle of carbonated drink and two bottles of spirit from a nearby shop.

"The students bought the two drinks together as they wanted a similar effect to alcohol, which was prohibited on the school premises.

"After mixing the liquids, they consumed it in their dormitory room. However, three students complained of stomach aches and feeling unwell, and they reported the symptoms to the warden," he said when contacted today.

The warden then took the students to a community clinic for examination and treatment.

"Following the clinic visit, they were allowed to go home, provided to return to the clinic if the situation worsened.

"However, at approximately 6:30 am the next day, the three students were rushed to the emergency unit of Pitas Hospital. Two of them experienced muscle spasms and shortness of breath.

"The two students were then referred to Queen Elizabeth Hospital I and II in the intensive care unit (ICU) while 18 other students are still receiving treatment at Pitas Hospital and are in a stable condition," Zairolnizal added.

The initial suspicion was that the symptoms were caused by methanol intoxication from an alcoholic beverage.

"However, after identifying the carbonated drink bottle provided by the victim, the case was reclassified as hydrocarbon poisoning since it was petroleum-based.

"There was a witness who confirmed a student has purchased spirit liquid and a bottle of carbonated drink," he said.