Four men hospitalized after shisha triggers carbon monoxide scare in Vienna

Four men in Vienna were rushed to hospital after suffering carbon monoxide poisoning while smoking shisha. The incident took place early in the morning in an apartment in the Favoriten district. Emergency services responded swiftly after alarms were raised.

The call for help came at around 4:30 a.m. on Quellenplatz. Firefighters and paramedics arrived to find the men, aged between 30 and 36, complaining of dizziness and severe headaches. Their symptoms pointed to carbon monoxide exposure.

Upon inspection, the Vienna Fire Brigade confirmed the gas heating system was functioning correctly. Investigators later determined that the poisoning likely came from the shisha they had been smoking. Carbon monoxide detectors in the apartment triggered as soon as responders entered, confirming high levels of the gas.

The men were quickly taken to hospital for treatment. Authorities have not yet released further details on their condition.

The incident highlights the risks of carbon monoxide poisoning from indoor shisha use. While the heating system was ruled out as the cause, the case serves as a reminder of the importance of proper ventilation. No official statistics on similar incidents in Austria are currently available.