Total Tragedy: 55 Killed, Others Hospitalized After Drinking Alleged 'Fake Alcohol'... See Shocking Details

Posted by Odinaka on Thu 22nd Dec, 2016 - tori.ng

Some residents of a town have been killed while others are still lying in hospital bed without a chance of survival after they drank a local gin bath masquerading as a safe alcoholic drink.

The fake drink

On Monday, at least 55 people have been reported dead while others are lying in the hospital at the Siberian city of Irkutsk after consuming cheap "surrogate" alcohol called 'Hawthon' which consists of a myriad of nasty liquids, including medical ethanol, window cleaner and perfume.

Authorities who described Hawthorn intake as the worst such case in modern Russian history, estimate that up to 12 million Russians regularly ingest these types of fake liquors.

The Guardian reports:

"Over 40 die in Siberia after drinking bath oil for alcoholic kicks. The deaths in Irkutsk appear to have been caused by a counterfeit batch of Boyaryshnik, a concentrated liquid sold as a relaxant to add to bathwater but widely known as a cheap alcohol substitute. It cost a maximum of 40 roubles (£0.52) per bottle, making it cheaper than even the lowest-cost vodka, and was even put on sale in public vending machines earlier this year.

"According to the label, Boyaryshnik contains 93% ethanol, hawthorn extract and lemon oils but tests on the Irkutsk consignment suggested it also contained methanol, an ingredient in antifreeze. Police said they had discovered an underground workshop in the city where bottles of fake Boyaryshnik were being produced, along with counterfeit bottles of well-known vodka brands."

The fake drink

Some 7 people have been detained in connection with the poisoning. In addition to the dodgy bath lotion, black marketeers behind the poisonous alcohol were producing several brands of vodka.

People aged 25 to 62 were stuck down by the poisoning. Almost half are women. The victims included a doctor and a kindergarten teacher, while 24 bodies were found in homes – people who had no time to call an ambulance.

Survivor Alexei, 33, said: ‘I met with my old friends, and we decided to drink a bit. My mates bought vodka, I do not remember the label. The taste seemed to me strange, bitter. I drank only one shot and then went home.

‘We had a supper, then I played with my child and went to sleep. In the morning I was blind. I could not even see what is in my cell-phone. I wanted to get up, but my legs did not obey. I’m a doctor by education, so I quickly understood that I had been poisoned.

‘I called to ambulance, and they brought me to hospital. Here I found out what is going on in the city. Hope these bastards will be found!’

President Vladimir Putin has ordered a crackdown on counterfeit alcohol to stop people ‘dying like flies’, with toll at 64, and likely to rise higher.

Meanwhile, after authorities seized over 2 tons of the poison drink from shops and kiosks around the city, the mayor of Irkutsk declared a state of emergency on Monday afternoon, placing a temporary ban on the sale of all liquids containing alcohol that are not specifically designed for casual consumption.