KEY POINTS:
Rotorua's coroner has ordered police to re-investigate the deaths of two men who may have died from hydrogen sulphide poisoning while using hot mineral pools.
Coroner Wallace Bain today announced he had ordered an inquiry into the deaths of Phillip Stanley Binns and Phillip John Ham, who both died "in and around hot mineral pools".
Mr Ham, 88, from Takapuna, died in a hot pool at Fernleaf Motel on April 14 this year. At the time Rotorua District Council said his death was not linked to hydrogen sulphide.
Mr Binns, 77, of Nelson, died after bathing in a hot pool at Pineland Motor Lodge last November 11.
Dr Bain said reports raised suspicion that both men may not have died from natural causes. Neither death was suspicious but both involved mineral pools, he said.
Interim Environmental Science and Research (ESR) reports showed hydrogen sulphide was found in the urine and blood of both men.
They had been exposed to hydrogen sulphide shortly before their deaths.
Interim findings of pathologists concluded the men died due to exposure to hydrogen sulphide.
Dr Bain said he had ordered further expert forensic pathology reports and directed the police conduct a "very full investigation" which would look at all circumstances regarding the use and operation of mineral pools and safety.
He also asked police to liaise with local councils to determine interim measures to ensure the public were adequately informed and protected from the possibility of sudden death from hydrogen sulphide poisoning.
A date for an inquest into both deaths will be set once the investigation is finished.
Dr Bain said information he had received so far was interim and a full inquest would have to be held before any final conclusions were made.
"However, in my view it is important that the public be made aware of these interim matters now and the general circumstances surrounding these deaths," he said.
Rotorua District Council chief executive Peter Guerin said he was saddened to learn two people died as a result of possible hydrogen sulphide poisoning.
The council would work closely with the police during the inquiry which Mr Guerin hoped would lead to improvements in regulations to eliminate these types of deaths.
He said there was a bylaw which provided standards for operating commercial mineral pools but improvements may need to be made to the level of education given on how to operate and maintain the pools.
Mr Guerin said once the coroner's report was evaluated, it would be reported to the council with advice on appropriate remedial actions.
The council is finalising a new Rotorua geothermal safety bylaw.
It will include new rules limiting the temperature of hot pools to 40C.
The bylaw would allow the council to check pool temperatures and hydrogen sulphide levels annually and close pools that do not comply.
The death in 2005 of Rotorua man Tane Ruhi, who fell into a 100C thermal bath at Ohinemutu, partly prompted the new rules, but the review is also a requirement of the Local Government Act.
Nigel Wharton, the council's environmental services director, said councillors were expected to look at the bylaw and any changes to it within the next month.
- NZPA
