A suspected carbon monoxide leak at the Haveli Indian Restaurant in Riverstone has left one person dead and six people in hospital on 16 September morning. Emergency services were called to the corner of Garfield Road and Railway Terrace shortly after 9 am, following reports that a person had been found unconscious inside the building. Five police officers who entered during the initial response were among those taken to hospital. All six are reported to be in a stable condition.
Fire and Rescue NSW deployed hazardous materials crews and gas detection equipment, establishing an exclusion zone around the two-storey premises while air testing continued through the morning. Authorities indicated that carbon monoxide is the likely cause, though investigators are still working to confirm the source and whether any other gases were involved.
NSW Police confirmed that officers performed CPR on a 25-year-old man found unresponsive inside the venue, but he could not be revived. The officers involved were then transported to hospital for assessment due to exposure during the rescue. Paramedics treated multiple people at the scene before taking the injured to Blacktown Hospital.
The restaurant, which operates at 2–6 Garfield Road East near Riverstone Station, remained closed while specialist crews ventilated and monitored the building’s air quality. Investigators are examining kitchen equipment and ventilation systems, and will review CCTV, maintenance records and witness accounts as part of a broader safety inquiry.
Officials have emphasised there is no broader risk to the public beyond the cordoned area, but urged businesses and households to check detectors and ensure adequate ventilation when using gas appliances. Carbon monoxide is odourless and invisible, and can build up quickly in enclosed spaces where combustion occurs without proper airflow.
On 16 September afternoon, emergency services said the scene would remain under examination until testing confirmed the building was safe to re-enter. Police have opened an investigation and are appealing for information from anyone who was in the vicinity around the time of the incident.
Haveli operates two Sydney sites, including its Riverstone location and another at Stanhope Gardens. The Riverstone venue sits within a mixed retail strip a short walk from public transport, and typically opens for lunch and dinner.
As the inquiry proceeds, safety experts note that affordable, battery-powered carbon monoxide alarms are widely available and recommend regular servicing of gas appliances, flues and extraction systems. While carbon monoxide poisoning is relatively rare in commercial settings with modern equipment, even brief exposures at high concentrations can be fatal. Authorities say they will release further details on the cause once testing and interviews are complete.
Police have asked anyone with dash-cam vision from Garfield Road East or Railway Terrace between 8.30 am and 10.30 am to contact Crime Stoppers.
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