Artist may have died from gas poisoning

Wanganui artist Joanna Paul may have died at Rotorua's Polynesian Spa from hydrogen sulphide poisoning - but the coroner can't be sure.

Rotorua coroner David Dowthwaite released his finding yesterday, nearly three-and-a-half years after Ms Paul's mysterious death and nearly two years after an inquest was held.

The finding has been described by Ms Paul's family as "careful and cautious".

Ms Paul was found unconscious and face down in the former Priest and Radium Pool on May 27, 2003 and was rushed to Rotorua hospital but died 24 hours later after being taken off life support.



Mr Dowthwaite is yet to make recommendations about what can be done to prevent similar deaths occurring and has asked Polynesian Spa for information about what steps it had put in place since Ms Paul's death.

Polynesian Spa managing director Martin Lobb said yesterday his operation accepted the coroner's finding. The pool where Ms Paul collapsed had been closed down and new pools had been built.

Ms Paul's sister, Dr Charlotte Paul from Dunedin, said the family looked forward to Mr Dowthwaite addressing the wider issues.

She said the delays in having a finding released had been hard on her family.

Mr Dowthwaite said in his finding that thermal bathing had always been an important part of the way of life in Rotorua and the prospect Ms Paul died from hydrogen sulphide poisoning had rightly attracted public concern.

Pathologist Dr David Taylor said in his evidence that Ms Paul's death was due to inhalation of toxic levels of hydrogen sulphide gas, resulting in unconsciousness and partial drowning.

Independent pathologist Dr Martin Sage believed Ms Paul died after fainting in the pools. He said there were one or two cases a month at Polynesian Spa where bathers fainted.

But Mr Dowthwaite said it could be said the fainting spells were not caused by hydrogen sulphide. Toxic levels of the gas were odourless and victims would not know if it had caused their fainting spell.

"Maybe the tragic death of Ms Paul is a reason why such thinking should be reviewed.

"In her case we do have significant evidence to raise the possibility that collapse was from hydrogen sulphide poisoning."

Mr Dowthwaite said while hydrogen sulphide poisoning was the likely cause, his finding was restricted by other evidence heard at the inquest.

In February Polynesian Spa pleaded guilty in the Rotorua District Court to a charge of failing to do all it could to prevent harm against Ms Paul. It was ordered to pay a $12,000 fine and $63,000 in reparation to Ms Paul's family.