Professor Dies In Methanol Mix-up
A RUSSIAN PROFESSOR working at the university has died after accidentally swallowing a toxic chemical. Professor Alexander Zhankov was on secondment to the University Centre of Ecology and Herbology when he swallowed methanol, believing it to be the alcohol-based ethanol.
He was rushed to the John Radcliffe hospital when a passer-by found him suffering from breathing difficulties in Bevington Road, North Oxford, just before 8 o'clock last Monday evening. Doctors battled to save the life of the scientist, but his life support machine was turned off in the early hours of the morning on Wednesday, October 4th.
A spokesman for the Centre described the accident as "a tragic event" and "a terrible thing to happen to someone when they're working so hard."
Professor Zhankov was nearing the end of his time in Oxford, and was due to return home to Russia shortly. His wife flew to Britain immediately after his death.
Duncan McGraw, spokesman for Thames Valley Police, told the Oxford Student: "A police investigation was carried out into his death, and it is believed that it occurred as a result of mistaking methanol for ethanol."
The Police have ruled out any notion of foul play.
A file has been prepared on the case, and passed to the Oxford coroner, Nicholas Gardiner.
12th Oct 2000