Two students who drank carbonated drinks mixed with spirit have died

KOTA KINABALU - The two students from a secondary school in Pitas who were in critical conditions due to methanol poisoning have passed away.

The two 17-year-old students were pronounced dead on Wednesday and Thursday respectively at Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QHE1) and Queen Elizabeth II Hospital (QHEII), here.

Kota Marudu district police chief Superintendent Zairolnizal Ishak said the first student was reported dead at 4.08pm on Wednesday.

"The cause of death was due to multiple organ failure due to methanol poisoning.

"The second student reportedly died the next day at 4pm and the cause of death was brain injuries due to methanol poisoning," he said when contacted by Sinar today.

He said the remains of the two students didn't have to undergo the autopsy process since the cause of their death had been determined and the victims had died while receiving treatment.

"The case has been classified as sudden death," he said.

On June 9, Sinar reported that two Form Five students were in critical condition, while another 18 students were receiving treatment after drinking carbonated drinks suspected to be mixed with spirit.

It was understood that the students had consumed the mixed drink, causing them to suffer from methanol poisoning on June 6.

Sabah State Health Department (JKNS) in a statement confirmed that a total of 20 students had suffered from methanol poisoning.

The two students, who were in critical conditions, needed respiratory assistance and were sent to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of HQE1 and HQEII respectively.