Alpha News

Police Investigate Death and Illness Linked to Water Cooler

Published January 7, 2026, 18:20

Police are investigating the death of a 78-year-old man and the illness of his 72-year-old wife, as well as three other relatives, following a gathering at their home in Larnaca. The 78-year-old was found unconscious and died in hospital, while the other four became ill after consuming water from a water cooler. Laboratory tests detected the substance “gamma-Butyrolactone” (GBL) in the water, which acts as a prodrug for GHB. Police are continuing their investigation to determine the cause of the contamination and death.