MAN DIES FROM
INHALATION OF GOLD EXTRACTION CHEMICALS
LAURENS COUNTY, S.C. —The Laurens County Sheriff's
Office is investigating the discovery of a body found on Barrel Stave Road on
Tuesday afternoon.
A man in his sixties was found in cardiac arrest inside
his home Tuesday evening, said deputies.
According to deputies, a preliminary investigation shows
the man was an amateur gold miner using chemicals to bring gold up from the
soil.
There was no explosion and investigators believed the
man died from exposure to the chemicals, said deputies.
According to deputies, if the man had mixed the
wrong materials there could have been an explosion.
Lt. Judy Stiles with the Sheriff's Office says a death
investigation began at 3:41p.m.
Stiles said the State Law Enforcement Division and a
hazardous-material team was also called in to help investigate due to some
material that was found near the body.
Barrel Stave Road was blocked off to allow investigators
to process the scene.
Stiles said there is no threat to the public, and foul
play is not suspected.