A man died in the Charleston industrial building he was contracted to clean out, authorities said.
Authorities said he was killed after inhaling dangerous levels of fumes, likely from the air conditioning units the contractor had been hired to remove.
On Saturday morning, a four-man work crew arrived at 1028 Valley Hill Road in Charleston Township, investigators said. The address was a former telecommunications facility, which includes a warehouse and a communication tower.
The victim, age 28, was part-owner of a debris-removal business that had been hauling off mechanical equipment and scrap metal from the site for the past week. Together with his brother, the victim entered the building that morning and proceeded to the facility's lower level. On the way down, the men encountered gas fumes, and the victim collapsed. His brother escaped and went to get the other men for help.
The three men returned to assist the victim, but were prevented by the gas fumes. The brother also collapsed inside the building, and the two workers fled up the stairs, calling 911.
A HAZMAT team from Chester County along with multiple emergency squads responded. All four men were transported to Paoli Hospital, where the 28-year-old man was pronounced dead. HAZMAT ventilated the building.
Authorities said that after a preliminary investigation, they believe the fumes came from air conditioning units located in the basement. Authorities said that the contractor had been in the early stages of removing the air conditioning units. Investigators said that valves on the units had been opened, allowing freon gas to escape into the air. They did not immediately say who or what caused the valves to be opened.
Freon gas was commonly used in coolant systems but is being phased out. By federal law, when disposing of cooling units, freon cannot be vented directly into the atmosphere.
The investigation continues.
