Teen dies, 2 others critical after apparent carbon monoxide poisoning from hookah

The three were found unconscious in a small room in Kafr Qasim, having seemingly fallen asleep while smoking, with charcoal still burning

By ToI Staff 28 March 2025, 6:21 pm

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Magen David Adom vehicles in Kafr Qasim, March 28, 2025 (MDA)

A 19-year-old died Friday and two 18-year-olds were in critical condition, apparently due to carbon monoxide poisoning after smoking a hookah in a closed space.

The three friends were found unconscious and unresponsive in a small room in Kafr Qasim in the morning and rushed to Beilinson Medical Center in Petah Tikva. One was declared dead at the hospital. The two others were in a critical state.

It is suspected that the three were smoking a hookah in the room and fell asleep with the charcoal still burning, leading to carbon monoxide poisoning.

Magen David Adom said it was alerted shortly before 11:30 a.m. to the discovery of three unconscious and unresponsive teenage boys, between the ages of 18 and 19, in a building in Kafr Qasim.

Carbon monoxide poisoning cases are usually more prevalent in winter, particularly as a result of less safe heating methods.

The gas has no color or smell, and the danger can be hard to identify until symptoms of poisoning become evident. Medical experts say charcoal should only be used in well-ventilated outdoor spaces.