The Sun reports that the family of former Manchester United and Chelsea star Radamel Falcao was hospitalized due to carbon monoxide poisoning, forcing Falcao to take leave from his current Colombian league match.
Among those poisoned were Falcao’s wife, their five children, and his in-laws. Falcao’s wife, Lorelei Talon, explained that when she turned on the water heater, it caused a gas leak, leading to dizziness for her and her family. The children (Dominique, Desiree, Anette, Jedidiah, and Haven) quickly showed symptoms and noticed a strong smell filling the house.
Lorelei stated: “It was really scary! Thank you for all your wishes, thank God we’re okay. We turned on the water heater, and the carbon monoxide made us all sick. I was downstairs with Jedidiah and my father, and as time went by, I felt dizzy, thinking it was something else. Later, Jedidiah and my father went upstairs to find the girls and my mother. I picked up Jedidiah and sat in the girls’ room where he fell asleep. It felt strange, but soon I also felt sleepy and fell asleep. Thankfully, our housekeeper started shouting, telling us to get out… at that moment, Anette was crying, Jedidiah was sleeping, and I felt like the world had turned upside down!”
Fortunately, Falcao’s family members were rushed to the hospital and are now out of danger. Falcao said: “Yesterday an unfortunate incident occurred at my home, and my wife, my in-laws, and my 5 children were hospitalized. Due to this situation, I cannot accompany my team to the upcoming match. I wish my teammates, fans, and citizens all the best, hoping for a great game. I also want to sincerely thank the clinic for providing excellent care for my family during their stay. Thank you all for your understanding and support!”
The 38-year-old Falcao has played for teams including River Plate, Porto, Atlético Madrid, Monaco, Manchester United, and Chelsea throughout his career. He currently plays for Millonarios FC in Colombia.