DJ and woman died of accidental carbon monoxide poisoning

Updated 2.07pm with PM statement

Popular DJ Ryan Spiteri and the woman who was with him on Tuesday died accidentally of carbon monoxide poisoning, Times of Malta can confirm.

Multiple sources close to the investigation said the victims are suspected to have inhaled the lethal chemical that was silently flowing into the car through the air-conditioning system.

Investigators believe the two were in the car, which was switched on, with the air-conditioning on, inside the garage in Marsascala, where they were found dead late on Tuesday.

Spiteri, 47, was named on social media shortly after their bodies were found but the 41-year-old woman who was with him is yet to be named.

Sources said investigators are now looking into the car's AC system, which is often the culprit in cases of deaths by carbon monoxide.

The police issued a statement on Wednesday afternoon confirming that the autopsy on the bodies determined the cause of death was accidental carbon monoxide poisoning.

They said the magisterial inquiry and police investigations are ongoing.

PM hits out against 'social media speculation'

Prime Minister Robert Abela paid tribute to both victims on Wednesday and warned of speculation on social media following tragedies. 

"Ryan was not only a DJ who brought joy to many people through his music, but also someone I had the opportunity to speak with on several occasions, together with Giorgia and Lydia. I found him to be a person of great humility and energy," he said.

"At this time of sorrow, my thoughts are with his family, relatives, friends, and everyone who knew and loved him."

He said the tragedy should remind people of the responsibile use of social media. 

"Before engaging in any kind of speculation, we must consider the impact our words can have on families who are going through some of the most difficult moments of their lives," he said.

"At times like these, truth, respect, and our sense of humanity should always come before everything else," he said.

The 'silent killer'

Carbon monoxide poisoning occurs when a person breathes in an odourless, colourless, and tasteless gas called carbon monoxide. It is often referred to as the "silent killer" because the person inhaling it cannot see, smell, or taste it, and it is usually too late by the time they feel the first effects of it.

When inhaled, the gas enters the bloodstream and sticks to the blood cells in a way that hijacks the cardiovascular system, blocking the cells from delivering oxygen and quickly starving vital organs, particularly the brain and heart, of the fuel they need to function.

The process can happen as quickly as ten minutes if a vehicle is left running in an enclosed space such as a closed garage, where carbon monoxide can build up to dangerous levels within minutes. 

Even if the garage door is partially open, the heavy exhaust fumes from the car, including carbon monoxide, may accumulate inside. If the vehicle's air conditioning is operating, contaminated air can be drawn into the cabin.

Because carbon monoxide is colourless, odourless and tasteless, those inside the vehicle may be unaware they are being exposed.  

Exposure can cause symptoms including drowsiness and confusion. As concentrations increase, it can lead to loss of consciousness, leaving people unable to switch off the engine or leave the vehicle. 

Investigations ongoing

The two bodies were undergoing autopsies on Wednesday morning to determine the cause of death.

Meanwhile police have ruled out the involvement of third parties and magistrate Monica Borg Galea has opened an inquiry into the incident.

By Wednesday morning, social media was flooded with tributes to Spiteri, who had performed at a party in Valletta just a day before.