Toxic Fumes At Georgia McDonald's: Woman Dead After Customers Found Unconscious [UPDATED]

UPDATE, 9/8/11, 2pm EST: An 80-year-old woman has died after toxic fumes at a Georgia McDonald's left 2 customers unconscious and hospitalized 10.

The Associated Press reports:

POOLER, Ga. -- An 80-year-old woman has died after being sickened by fumes at a McDonald's restaurant in south Georgia.

Pooler Police Chief Mark Revenew says Anne Felton of Ponte Vedra, Fla., died early Thursday. She and her husband were customers at the restaurant. An autopsy will be conducted to determine her cause of death.

Felton was one of 10 taken to the hospital Wednesday after firefighters found two customers unconscious in the bathroom and others struggling to breathe.

Authorities suspect cleaning chemicals in the restroom are to blame, but the cause is still under investigation.

McDonald's said in a statement Wednesday that the restaurant reopened after authorities deemed it safe. The company did not immediately comment on Felton's death.

The AP had reported earlier on the fumes at the McDonald's:

One of the customers found unconscious was in critical condition, Pooler Fire Chief Wade Simmons said.

A second person was also admitted to the hospital in nearby Savannah, while the other eight were treated and released, said Memorial University Medical Center spokeswoman Bryna Gordon.

Simmons said firefighters smelled an unusual odor, and the restaurant was evacuated. He said people were complaining of difficulty breathing.

At least 20 people, including three Pooler firefighters, were decontaminated by a hazardous materials team as a precaution, Simmons said. Authorities suspect cleaning chemicals in the restroom are to blame, but a specific cause had not been determined.

Firefighters ventilated the building and took air samples to make certain the restaurant was safe, Pooler Fire Capt. Scott Cribbs said Wednesday night.

A statement issued by McDonald's on behalf of franchisees John and Monique Palamccio said that the restaurant reopened after authorities deemed it safe.

"The safety of our customers and employees is always a priority," they said in the statement. "We wish everyone involved a speedy recovery."

Comments

[Max Shaw]

01:46 PM on 09/12/2011

Damn it Lupe! How many times do I have to tell you not to mix Cholrine and Ammonia??!! Geez!

[Teresa T]

02:51 AM on 09/12/2011

Pretty scarey, someone needs to read labels better. Sounds like that McDonalds was negligent. Hard way to learn a lesson, especially for the dead and injured.

[SBinF]

01:18 PM on 09/11/2011

Hmm, sounds like someone mixed the special sauce and ammonia. Terrible fumes.

[intrusion]

10:49 PM on 09/09/2011

I hope an autopsy confirms this. The woman was 80 years, we all know that it's not good eating at fast food places as it and when you get that old it's double true. I'm kidney transplant and in my middle forties and I don't eat fast food that stuff will kill you or it will destroy my new kidney fast. My condolences to the family this must be hard no matter how she died.

[Greg 135]

01:47 PM on 09/09/2011

"We wish everyone involved a speedy recovery." Ummm, one person is DEAD...how does McDonald's expect her to recover?

[VeronicaLeeAn]

06:23 PM on 09/10/2011

that's exactly what i was thinking...

[nomadrdw]

11:46 AM on 09/09/2011

if they are so concerned about the health and safety of their customers and employees why on earth is the store reopened WITHOUT KNOWING what caused this.

[kareemachan]

11:34 AM on 09/09/2011

'A statement issued by McDonald's on behalf of franchisees John and Monique Palamccio said that the restaurant reopened after authorities deemed it safe.'

Not safe enough for me to visit. Ever. I would guess that some employee thought it would be a good idea to mix cleaning chemicals like bleach and ammonia....

[mrshasson]

01:29 PM on 09/09/2011

That was my first thought too.

[Sixtracks]

11:20 AM on 09/09/2011

I would rather starve than eat McDonalds

[Rizz]

11:55 AM on 09/09/2011

Same difference.

[geekman]

11:19 AM on 09/09/2011

The ammonia they use to treat the beef-like product in order to kill bacteria must have been a bit too strong that day.

[Micah J Femino]

11:05 AM on 09/09/2011

Maybe they'll put "Caution: Toxic" on the outside of every store (like the coffee incident twenty odd years ago)

[shockaslim]

10:55 AM on 09/09/2011

I am....flabbergasted. While this is a tragedy....if you can't breathe why don't you go OUTSIDE! How do you have trouble breathing and then just go to the bathroom?

[MRDMSY]

11:09 AM on 09/09/2011

They couldn't breathe BECAUSE they were in or near the bathroom.

[ztck5356]

11:30 AM on 09/09/2011

Focus.

[The Right is Wrong]

10:48 AM on 09/09/2011

And I always thought it was the food that would kill ya at McDonalds!

[Blackwing]

10:44 AM on 09/09/2011

I get sick just thinking about McDonalds food.

[Vorlon]

10:43 AM on 09/09/2011

Perhaps it was ground "beef" patties imported from Uruguay or Mexico, as grocery stores like to stock these days.

[jvegasjim]

11:42 AM on 09/09/2011

A person who uses Christ in her name....using such vulgar language...shameful!