A 26-year-old man and a
24-year-old woman are in critical condition after drinking a
detergent containing caustic soda at a cafe in Sestri Ponente
near Genoa.
The two are at Genoa's Galliera hospital after being served
the detergent, which the barman had poured from a bottle kept
under the sink, instead of water.
The barman had not noticed that it was not water.
The two felt pain as soon as they drank a small amount and
Carabinieri and local health authority officials were called to
the scene. The bottle was taken as evidence and the barman has
been reported to the police for bodily harm.
The liquid is odorless and colorless. The barman, who is
friends with the two victims, called rescue services
immediately.
Carabinieri recommend that detergents never be put in
alternative containers since there is the risk of mistaking them
for water.
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