Parents’ toxic deaths

Two young children, who thought they would be apart from their parents for a few days, have been left orphaned after their parents, their parents’ friend, as well as the family dog, were found dead in a house in Greenwood Park, on Monday morning.

The lifeless bodies of three people, who are suspected of having inhaled toxic fumes from a generator, were discovered at a Rosary Road property.

Kyle Richards (31) and his 28-year-old wife, Taylene, along with their 31-year-old friend, Bongumusa Ngcobo, are believed to have inhaled carbon monoxide fumes from a generator they had borrowed from a relative after they had experienced cable theft.

The couple’s children, Kaylon (eight) and Tamar (five) have subsequently been left orphaned following the tragic deaths of their parents.

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Kyle’s cousin, Delon Twynham, said the couple had borrowed the generator from him after they arrived from work last Wednesday to find that the electricity cables had been stolen.

Twynham then said the couple decided to temporarily place the children in the care of their maternal grandmother until the electricity could be restored.

“They didn’t show up to work on Saturday and I thought they drank too much the previous night. But when they didn’t come to work on Monday morning that is when I became concerned. I spoke to Taylene’s mum and we decided to go to the house and investigate. They got to the house first, jumped the fence and they made the discovery,” he said. He stated that all three of them were good and kind-hearted people.

“It is difficult to accept such a blow. Losing one person is difficult but losing three, all at once, is something I can’t explain,” added Twynham, who was Kyle and Bongumusa’s employer.

KZN VIP, a company that provides emergency services, said they received multiple requests for medical assistance.

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“Upon the arrival of emergency teams, it was established that after the family [of the deceased] couldn’t make any communication they went to the home and made the discovery. Reports from the scene indicate that a generator was being used in the home due to cable theft in the area which has left residents without power for days. The victims were sadly two adult males, one female and a pit bull,” said a statement by KZN VIP.

Provincial police spokesperson, Col Robert Netshiunda, said Greenwood Park police are investigating three inquest cases.