Man dies after drinking caustic soda

A Wanganui man is dead after mistakenly drinking a glass of caustic soda.

Acting Senior Sergeant Darcy Forrester, of Wanganui police, said Robert Walter Baldwin, 63, thought the caustic soda was lemonade.

"Mr Baldwin and his wife, Eleanor, were carrying out routine maintenance at their Wanganui Wine and Spirits Shop in Duncan St, which involved the cleaning of beer dispensers," Mr Forrester said. "For some reason Mr Baldwin poured the caustic soda into a smaller cordial container. Somehow it was mistaken for a cordial drink."

It is understood Mr Baldwin had no sense of smell and taste and also suffered from failing eyesight. He was also thought to have had false teeth.

Mr Baldwin consumed a glass of caustic soda while his wife drank a smaller amount, before rejecting it.

Mrs Baldwin was in a stable condition at Wanganui Hospital yesterday, a spokesperson said.

Police suspected Mr Baldwin's impairments were the reason he was able to consume so much of the poison.

"Wanganui police are continuing to investigate the circumstances of the incident for the coroner," Mr Forrester said.

The coroner was likely to comment on the incident when the inquiry was completed.

- NZPA