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78-Year-Old Dies, Four Hospitalized in Larnaca After Consuming Water Contaminated with GBL

Published January 7, 2026, 16:15
78-Year-Old Dies, Four Hospitalized in Larnaca After Consuming Water Contaminated with GBL

A 78-year-old man has died and four people are hospitalized in Larnaca after consuming water from a cooler contaminated with the substance GBL (gamma-Butyrolactone). The State Chemistry has confirmed the presence of the substance, which is being investigated for a possible connection to the elderly man's death. Police are continuing their investigation to determine how the substance ended up in the cooler. GBL is a colorless, liquid organic compound that acts as a precursor to GHB (gamma-hydroxybutyric acid), a powerful central nervous system depressant. It is used medically, but also illegally as a drug, also known as a 'date rape drug'. Consumption of GBL can cause drowsiness, euphoria, loss of consciousness, nausea, memory loss, and even coma. The condition of the hospitalized patients is improving, and one patient who had been intubated has now been extubated, but remains in the Intensive Care Unit. Police are investigating the possibility of criminal activity, taking statements from the victims' families and friends. GBL is also used in cleaning products. Authorities warn of the serious risks of overdose and mixing the substance with alcohol or other depressants, as it can lead to respiratory failure, coma, and death.