A resident of a Regina apartment complex raised concerns about a carbon monoxide alarm going off in his unit shortly before an 11-year-old boy tragically passed away in the same building. The resident reported that upon contacting maintenance staff, he was advised to ventilate the area by opening windows and using a fan. The man chose to remain anonymous due to fears of potential repercussions.
Following the alarm incident on December 19 at the Metro 1827 apartment building, the maintenance team investigated the cause, suggesting that external smoking activity might have triggered the detector. Unfortunately, the young boy, Henry Losco, succumbed to carbon monoxide poisoning later that day in his family’s fourth-floor apartment.
Carbon monoxide, being a colorless and odorless gas, is often referred to as a “silent killer” as it can go undetected without proper monitoring equipment. The resident who experienced the alarm expressed regret for not demanding further action from maintenance, believing that Henry’s tragic death could have been prevented.
The building’s tenants are now seeking answers and accountability for the devastating incident. Despite requests for interviews, both the building owner and maintenance personnel declined to respond to inquiries from CBC. The grieving mother of Henry Losco, Marina Hills, expressed the profound impact of losing her son and the irreparable void left in her life.
A health-care worker, Heather Njaa, who witnessed the distressing scene, highlighted the need for prompt action in emergencies. She had rushed to assist Henry’s family and called emergency services, but unfortunately, the young boy could not be saved. Njaa later demanded explanations from building management regarding the malfunctioning CO detectors.
The building’s owner, Mark Frentz, mentioned that the boilers had undergone inspection by the Technical Safety Authority of Saskatchewan (TSASK) the day before the tragedy. Despite the boilers passing the safety checks, a critical failure led to a carbon monoxide leak, resulting in the fatal incident. An ongoing multi-agency investigation is being conducted to ascertain the full details of the event.
In response to the tragedy, some residents, like Susan Wasylyshyn, took personal safety measures by purchasing additional carbon monoxide detectors for their units. Wasylyshyn’s proactive approach was spurred by her own alarming experience during the incident, where she and her pets exhibited symptoms of CO exposure.
The heart-wrenching loss of Henry Losco has deeply impacted his family and the community, prompting calls for enhanced safety measures within the apartment complex to prevent similar tragedies in the future. Hills and Sergio Losco, Henry’s parents, bravely shared their story to raise awareness and advocate for greater vigilance in protecting families from carbon monoxide dangers.