An Algerian national died in Dublin after he collapsed outside his home with a high level of carbon monoxide in his system that remains unexplained, an inquest has heard.
Laid Chami (34), Rathmines Road Upper, Dublin, was not exposed to carbon monoxide at the apartment he shared with his wife and baby daughter or at his workplace in a Dublin hotel, Dublin City Coroner's Court heard yesterday.
Karina Foroog told the inquest that her husband had been suffering from asthma at the time of his death and had a bad cough. She said her husband was using an inhaler but had not been to a doctor before his collapse in the early hours of September 2nd, 2005.
Mr Chami was discovered in his pyjamas on the footpath yards from his home by a barman from nearby Rody Boland's pub in Rathmines.
Eric Connell found him gasping for air on the ground beside some parked cars. An ambulance was called but Mr Chami was pronounced dead soon after arrival at Dublin's St James's Hospital.
An autopsy found that Mr Chami had a respiratory problem in his lungs and the left ventricle of his heart was enlarged. Dr Cian Muldoon, who carried out the postmortem, said carbon monoxide at 19.7 per cent was also found in his system. "We are all exposed to carbon monoxide as we go about our daily lives. One to 2 per cent is normal. A chronic smoker might have 6 to 7 per cent and a fatal level is about 60 per cent," he told the court.
Dr Muldoon said it was possible that Mr Chami had an allergic respiratory reaction to the carbon monoxide, which "triggered a cardiac arrest".
Coroner Dr Brian Farrell recorded an open verdict and said the carbon monoxide was a "factor" in death. "There is no definite diagnosis. We believe he may have had an allergic respiratory condition."