FOLLOWING the mysterious death of a 13-year-old boy on Sunday and the hospitalisation of five family members, police and health officials in Region One are investigating whether it is a case of poisoning.

According to press release from police headquarters, Rondel Henry, a student of Aruca Mouth Primary School, and his family had consumed a locally-made liquid product which resulted in uncontrollable diarrhea and vomiting.

Police said Henry and his family started experiencing the complications on Sunday. The family observed that the teen was motionless at home and rushed him to the Mabaruma Regional Hospital just after midday on Monday. He was pronounced dead on arrival and his body was later transferred to the mortuary, pending a post-mortem examination, police said.

Fearing for their lives, the other members of the family sought medical attention that very day.

The police noted that a team of environmental officers and police ranks visited the family’s home at around 16:00 hours on Monday, where they looked for poisonous substances or containers that contained such substances. However, none were found.

The surviving family members are currently patients at the regional hospital. Their conditions are listed as critical.