Man dies after suspected carbon monoxide poisoning at takeaway; seven others treated, police investigate

A man in his 50s died after suspected carbon monoxide poisoning at a takeaway on Cresswell Crescent in Bloxwich, Walsall, on Friday night, West Midlands Police said.

Officers were called at about 9:40 p.m. after concerns for welfare at the premises. Seven other people, including emergency responders, were treated at the scene for suspected carbon monoxide exposure, with some taken to hospital for further assessment as a precaution. Police cordoned off the area and evacuated nearby properties while responders assessed the danger.

Councillor Michael Coulson said the incident occurred at the takeaway premises between Mossley Chemist and the One Stop convenience store. He said firefighters were unable to access an injured person inside the property because a generator was releasing a mixture of gases, complicating rescue efforts. Coulson added that after tests were completed, residents were allowed back into their homes around 3 a.m. and the shops reopened the following morning, with a small police presence remaining on scene.

A police spokesperson offered condolences to the man’s loved ones and confirmed that seven others were treated at the scene for suspected carbon monoxide exposure, with some subsequently taken to hospital for further assessment. Police did not provide a breakdown of the emergency workers affected.

Investigators from West Midlands Police said the incident remains under investigation as they determine how the equipment involved may have contributed to the exposure and what factors led to the fatality. Authorities stressed that there was no information at this time to suggest immediate danger to the public beyond the affected property.