Todd Crothers was asphyxiated by petrol fumes in his boat in Queensland. Photo / Facebook
Todd Crothers was asphyxiated by petrol fumes in his boat in Queensland. Photo / Facebook
An All Blacks fan living in Australia died from toxic fumes after setting up a petrol-powered generator in his boat so he could watch the rugby on television.
Former Wellington man Todd Crothers, 59, was asphyxiated by petrol fumes in his boat in Queensland on August 15, Fairfax Media reported.
The father-of-three had been watching the All Blacks go toe-to-toe with Australia in the Bledisloe Cup decider - which the New Zealanders took out 41-13.
Mr Crother's body was found by Caboolture police the next day on the boat, which was moored in Elimbah Creek, north of Brisbane.
A petrol generator was being used to power a television in an enclosed space in the 13-metre boat, police said. It was still switched on when police found his body.
The coroner had not revealed the cause of death, but Caboolture Police Senior Sergeant Shane Rockley said it appeared Mr Crothers had died from carbon monoxide poisoning.
"He was going to watch the game on TV that night and we are presuming [the match] was still on at the time," Mr Rockley told Fairfax Media.
"The TV was in the 'on' position when he was found."
