Deadly fumes kill Haitian dad in Ottawa, injure 9 others, highlighting carbon monoxide risks for immigrants

Patrick Joseph, a 44-year-old Haitian immigrant and father of two young children, tragically passed away in Ottawa, Canada, on Dec. 26 due to carbon monoxide poisoning. His death occurred just a couple of months after he arrived in the country with his wife and children through a family-based humanitarian pathway program. The incident sheds light on the pressing need for better safety awareness and resources for Haitian immigrant families who are unfamiliar with the risks posed by carbon monoxide in the diaspora, particularly in Canadian and American homes.

“This is devastating for the family, particularly for the mother and her two young kids, who will struggle significantly to adjust to life here without Patrick,” said Bénita Morantus-Aurélus, Joseph’s wife’s relative based in Florida, told The Haitian Times.

Joseph’s sister-in-law sponsored him to enter Canada along with nine other relatives, comprising six adults— including three couples— and four children.

All 10 newcomers living in the same home were seriously affected by the tragic accident, with the city’s emergency response service quickly mobilizing fire trucks, ambulances, and police to save their lives. After providing on-site urgent care to the victims, the emergency personnel took them to the regional hospital for further treatment.

 “He was a hardworking husband and devoted father, leaving behind his grieving wife and two children, both under the age of 10.”

A family member

The tragedy unfolded on Sunday morning, Dec. 22, as winter temperatures plummeted in eastern Ottawa’s Vanier neighborhood, forcing households to rely on heating systems that, if improperly maintained or ventilated, can release deadly carbon monoxide gas. Like many new immigrants adapting to life in a colder climate, Joseph and his family were likely unaware of the silent danger posed by this odorless, colorless gas. Without a functioning carbon monoxide detector in their home, they received no warning of the toxic buildup. 

According to the Ottawa Police Service (OPS), reported by Radio-Canada,  human error is thought to have led to the accident.

OPS Sgt. Scott Pettis explained that the victims of the carbon monoxide poisoning were new to Canada and unfamiliar with the precautions required in cold weather. Law enforcement reported that the family had left a vehicle running inside their garage to warm it up for a few minutes before heading out, unaware that they needed to open the garage door to ventilate the house properly.

The Ottawa Paramedic team found all the individuals, including a 3-year-old and a 9-year-old, in serious condition. However, Joseph was no longer showing vital signs when emergency medical professionals arrived at the house shortly after 9 a.m. on Dec. 22. 

With their conditions stabilized following urgent and intense medical interventions, the other nine family members were all released from the hospital on Monday, Dec. 23. Still, Joseph, who showed no vital signs, was kept on life support until Thursday, Dec. 26, when he was pronounced dead at 44 years old.

“He was a hardworking husband and devoted father, leaving behind his grieving wife and two children, both under the age of 10,” a grieving family member, who requested anonymity, told The Haitian Times. Before immigrating to Canada in September, Joseph taught at École Saint-Louis de Gonzague, a renowned Catholic school based in Delmas 33, northeast of Port-au-Prince.

Joseph’s death sent shockwaves through his family and extended community, reaching far beyond Canada. Families and friends in the United States and Haiti are also inconsolably grieving.

Miketa Delavard Cherefant, one of Joseph’s wife’s cousins based in Pembroke Pines, Florida, told The Times she was devastated upon receiving the news of the tragic accident. 

“This is an inexplicable situation. It’s very tough to talk about it,” Cherenfant said.

Supporting families and raising awareness of preventable tragedy

Carbon monoxide poisoning is responsible for approximately 300 deaths annually in Canada, with an additional 200 hospitalizations. In the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), over 100,000 people visit an emergency room for accidental carbon monoxide poisoning, with thousands hospitalized and hundreds dying each year. Despite these numbers, many households—especially those of new immigrants—lack awareness of the risks or fail to install carbon monoxide detectors, which are widely recognized as life-saving devices.          

Joseph’s death is a stark reminder of the challenges immigrant families face as they adjust to life in a new country. Beyond the immediate grief and loss, his wife and children are now navigating the aftermath of this tragedy without their primary financial supporter. Ottawa community organizations have rallied to provide support, offering counseling services and financial assistance while helping them navigate local resources, Rideau-Vanier Municipal Councilor Stéphanie Plante said.                                                                                                                                                               

As Canada continues to welcome immigrants and refugees, their safety and well-being must be prioritized. Public safety experts emphasize the importance of proactive measures, including mandatory safety briefings for newcomers, subsidized carbon monoxide detectors, and improved outreach efforts to educate immigrant communities about potential household risks.             

                                                         

“Carbon monoxide detectors save lives. Every home needs one. We need to ensure that all families, especially those new to Canada, have the knowledge and tools to prevent these tragedies.”

Guillaume Lacombe, Emergency physician and toxicologist at the Lanaudière Regional Hospital Center in Canada

“This tragedy could have been avoided with proper awareness and resources,” Sarah Thompson, a public health expert, told Radio-Canada. “Immigrant families, particularly those from warmer climates, may not be aware of certain health risks associated with the dangers of carbon monoxide or the importance of using detectors in their homes.”                                                                                                                                                        

                                                                                                                                                                         The Joseph family’s arrival in Ottawa was meant to mark a fresh start after fleeing gang violence and humanitarian challenges in Haiti. While programs like the one from which the family benefited aim to provide security and hope for immigrants, gaps in education about public safety risks and other difficulties can lead to devastating outcomes.

Calls for action   

The incident has sparked calls for increased safety education targeted specifically at immigrant families. Advocates are urging local governments and community organizations to provide culturally sensitive resources, such as multilingual safety guides and workshops on home safety.                                                                                                                                

“Carbon monoxide detectors save lives. Every home needs one,” said Guillaume Lacombe, an emergency physician and toxicologist at the Lanaudière Regional Hospital Center in Canada, during an interview with radio-Canada. “We need to ensure that all families, especially those new to Canada, have the knowledge and tools to prevent these tragedies.”

In response to this incident, several residents have called on the government and community organizations to distribute free carbon monoxide detectors to vulnerable families, including new immigrants. Additionally, they urged the government to include home safety education as part of the settlement services provided to families arriving through humanitarian programs.

The post Deadly fumes kill Haitian dad in Ottawa, injure 9 others, highlighting carbon monoxide risks for immigrants appeared first on The Haitian Times.

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Deadly fumes kill Haitian dad in Ottawa, injure 9 others, highlighting carbon monoxide risks for immigrants was first posted on January 3, 2025 at 12:08 pm.