London Tragedy: Girl, 11, Dies After Neighbor's DIY Illegal Bedbug Cure Goes Wrong


Fatiha Sabrin, a bright and bubbly 11-year-old girl, tragically lost her life in December 2021. It wasn't a car accident or illness that took her, but a deadly gas seeped from a nearby apartment, allegedly triggered by a neighbor's desperate attempt to DIY a bedbug solution.

Jesmin Akter, 33, Fatiha's neighbor, stands accused of manslaughter and illegally importing a dangerous substance. The Times reports that Akter brought in a potent chemical from Italy, without proper permits, to tackle a bedbug problem in her flat. 

This substance, aluminum phosphide, releases a toxic gas called phosphine upon contact with moisture. Investigators believe this gas, leaking through the walls, reached Fatiha's apartment above, leading to her fatal illness.

Adding to the tragedy, Akter allegedly used three times the recommended amount of the chemical, further amplifying the potential danger. While she evacuated her family that night, sadly, Fatiha succumbed to the effects of the gas, suffering cardiac arrest and later passing away in the hospital.

A court date is set for April 19, with a trial scheduled for July. This case serves as a stark reminder of the risks involved in using unregulated and dangerous substances, even when battling common household pests.
 

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