Four-Day-Old Baby Survives As Man And Whole Family Dies

Ifeanyi, a trader, along with his wife Amaka, two children, mother-in-law, and apprentice perished in Anambra State from breathing in toxic fumes from a generator, with their four-day-old baby being the only survivor.

On Friday, July 21, 2023, a spokesperson for the State Police Command confirmed the occurrence to Punch and claimed that the investigation into their death was still ongoing.

“The matter is still being investigated and the details will be communicated as soon as the investigation is concluded,” the PPRO added.

The family was reportedly celebrating their first night in their newly constructed mansion at Nkwelle Ezunuka in Oyi Local Govt Area, close to Onitsha, at the time of the event.

Ifeanyi, a merchant at the Onitsha Bridge Head Market, was an Enugu State native.

According to the publication, the man’s wife had given birth to a child on Wednesday, July 12, 2023, and as a surprise for his wife, he arranged for the family to move into a new home right away.

It was the family’s first night in their new home, according to local sources, who also stated that only the four-day-old baby survived.

According to the source, word of the tragedy spread when a friend who was meant to attend the party that night but was unable to do so went to the deceased’s home only to find the doors locked and the generator still running.

Only the newborn baby was in stable condition when the victims arrived at the hospital for treatment, according to Rev. Fr. Izunna Okonkwo, the manager of St. Charles Borromeo Hospital in Onitsha where they were sent.

“The entire members of the family were in their new mansion celebrating when suddenly there was a power outage. The man had to put on the generator stationed at the verandah close to the bedroom,” a source explained.

“The celebration continued into the night before they all slept off and didn’t remember to switch off the generator. The next morning, a friend who was supposed to join them in the celebration but couldn’t meet up, went to the deceased house only to discover that the doors were locked with the generator still on.

“After knocking for some time without response, he alerted other neighbours who forced the door open and saw the lifeless bodies, it was only the four-day-old baby that survived.

“The wife and one of the daughters were still unconscious when they were rushed to the hospital, but efforts to resuscitate them, including placing them on oxygen, failed, and they were pronounced dead.”