On a quiet Friday night in late September, a tragedy unfolded in Bloxwich, West Midlands, that has left a community shaken and searching for answers. Emergency services were called to Timmy’s Pizza, a takeaway shop on Cresswell Crescent, at around 9:40 PM BST on September 26, 2025, after concerns were raised about the welfare of a man inside the premises. The events that followed would reveal a chilling case of suspected carbon monoxide poisoning, resulting in the death of a man in his 50s and sending seven others—including emergency responders—to hospital or for urgent medical assessment.
According to BBC News, West Midlands Police confirmed that the man was pronounced dead at the scene. Emergency crews, including three ambulances, four police cars, a fire engine, and forensic teams, responded swiftly. Their efforts, however, could not save the victim, whose identity has not yet been publicly released. The seven other individuals affected by the incident, some of whom were emergency service workers, were treated at the scene and, in several cases, transported to hospital for further care.
The suspected culprit? Carbon monoxide—a colorless, odorless gas often called the "silent killer." Walsall councillor Michael Coulson, who has been closely involved in the aftermath, told Birmingham Live and other local outlets that Timmy’s Pizza was undergoing refurbishment at the time. He believes a generator being operated inside the shop without sufficient ventilation released toxic gases, including carbon monoxide and, reportedly, cyanide. “My thoughts are with the deceased, and all affected by this awful tragedy,” Coulson stated. He added that the fire service had been called to help an injured person but struggled to access the property safely because of the dangerous gas buildup.
The impact of the incident rippled beyond the walls of the takeaway. As a precaution, police and fire officials evacuated adjacent shops and flats above the pizza parlour. Cara Jackson, 23, who was working at the neighboring One Stop convenience store and lives nearby, described the harrowing scene to the PA news agency: “There were three ambulances, four cop cars, a fire engine and the forensics obviously came after. I did see them doing CPR… I did see everything that happened. I’ve scarred a little. I don’t really feel the best today because obviously I breathed it all in.”
Jackson and her colleague were among those evacuated while safety tests were performed. She recounted the anxiety of the experience, saying, “I didn’t really sleep last night. I wasn’t like scared to sleep but… the fire brigade told us we’re lucky because if we went to sleep last night we wouldn’t have woke back up.” Her account underscores the insidious nature of carbon monoxide poisoning, which can cause unconsciousness and death without warning if inhaled in sufficient quantities.
Residents and business owners in the area were allowed to return to their properties at around 3:00 AM BST on September 27, 2025, after emergency crews completed thorough safety checks. According to BlackCountryLive, shops including a chip shop and pharmacy were able to reopen by Saturday morning, restoring a semblance of normalcy to the neighborhood. Councillor Coulson noted on social media that he had spoken to three men at the shop earlier that evening, having completed a litter pick around the shops just after 7:00 PM. “It’s so incredibly tragic what has happened,” he wrote, reflecting the community’s collective grief.
The investigation into the incident is ongoing. Police are working closely with the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) to determine the full circumstances that led to the fatal exposure. In a statement provided to several news outlets, West Midlands Police said: “We attended business premises in Cresswell Crescent, Bloxwich, at around 9.40pm yesterday (26 September) following concerns for the welfare of a man. Other emergency services were also in attendance and a man in his 50s was sadly confirmed dead at the scene. Our thoughts are with his loved ones at this devastating time. Seven other people—including emergency service workers—were treated at the scene for the suspected effects of carbon monoxide poisoning. Some were taken to hospital for further assessment. A small number of nearby properties were temporarily evacuated but occupants have since been able to return. We will work with the Health and Safety Executive to help establish the full circumstances.”
Carbon monoxide incidents, while rare, are not unheard of in the UK. The gas is produced by the incomplete combustion of fuels such as gas, oil, coal, and wood. Portable generators, like the one believed to have been used at Timmy’s Pizza, are a common source of accidental poisoning—especially when operated indoors or in poorly ventilated spaces. Because carbon monoxide is undetectable by human senses, victims often have no warning before symptoms—headache, dizziness, nausea, confusion—set in, sometimes fatally.
In the wake of the Bloxwich tragedy, local officials and safety advocates are urging vigilance when using generators and similar equipment. The Health and Safety Executive has long recommended that such devices only be used outdoors, far from windows, doors, and vents. This incident, they say, is a stark reminder of the potential dangers lurking in everyday tools when safety protocols are not followed.
The emotional toll on the community is palpable. Residents have expressed shock and sorrow, with many taking to social media to offer condolences to the victim’s family and gratitude to the emergency workers who responded to the scene. One comment, shared by Birmingham Live, read: “They could enter and the ambulance, air ambulance and fireman worked tirelessly on the poor man who lost his life. All our thoughts go to the family.” Another echoed: “Thinking of all involved, their families, and the emergency services.”
For now, the focus remains on supporting those affected and ensuring that such a tragedy does not repeat itself. The investigation by police and the Health and Safety Executive will seek to clarify exactly how the gas leak occurred and whether any safety regulations were breached during the refurbishment of Timmy’s Pizza. As the community in Bloxwich begins to heal, the hope is that lessons learned from this incident will help prevent future loss of life from carbon monoxide—an invisible threat with very real consequences.
As the dust settles and daily routines resume, the memory of that Friday night lingers. The story of Timmy’s Pizza stands as a somber reminder: safety, especially with invisible dangers like carbon monoxide, can never be taken for granted.
