Woman ‘in a coma’ after 10 people ‘drink cleaning fluid mistaken for alcohol’
At least 10 people are believed to have drank a highly corrosive liquid at a restaurant in Germany on New Year’s Eve.
Three women and seven men, aged between 31 and 84, were injured after the disaster in the town of Timmendorfer Strand, on the Baltic Sea coast.
One of the victims has suffered so seriously that doctors had to put her in a medically induced coma while she recovers, NDR reported.
The mistake happened at around 8pm as the group was preparing to ring in 2026.
Instead of Schnapps liqueurs, they were allegedly served a cleaning liquid.
Emergency services treated the victims who complained of chemical burns in their mouths, noses, and throats, said a spokesperson for the Integrated Regional Control Center (IRLS) South.
Police spokesperson Anna Julia Meyer said: ‘According to initial findings, at least 10 people ingested a highly corrosive liquid.
Ten people suffered injuries, at least one of whom was seriously injured.’
The police have since launched an investigation on suspicion of negligent bodily harm.
This is not the first incident of its kind to rock the region. A similar one took place in November 2016 at a restaurant in Lübeck’s old town.
Back then, a group of visitors were mistakenly served grill cleaner instead of alcohol.
Both liquids were packaged in white plastic canisters, which is how the confusion arose.
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