BRAMPTON : Three members of the family that owns Brampton’s Calypso Hut restaurant died in their home yesterday from apparent carbon monoxide poisoning.
A broken furnace prompted the family to bring at least one propane heater inside overnight Sunday as temperatures dropped outside, according to Peel Regional Police.
Jerry Pitamber, 29, came home around 2 a.m. after closing the Queen Street East restaurant for the night. Inside the home he found his parents, Peter Pitamber, 60, Seeta Pitamber, 59, and older brother Terry, 36, dead in the main floor of their Linden Crescent home, in the area of Queen Street East and Dixie Road. His mother and brother were in bed, his father was on the floor.
In the basement, he found his uncle, Paul Rampersaud, 56, and a family friend, 66, still alive, but suffering from carbon monoxide poisoning.
“He (Jerry) saved my uncle’s life,” said a cousin outside the Calypso Hut. “He pulled him out of the basement. He had to carry him (Paul) out of the house. He saved his life.”
Still grieving the death three weeks ago of Peter and Paul’s mother, the extended family, friends and supporters are now reeling with the news.
“We are in shock,” said cousin Alvin Rampersaud. “They had the biggest hearts in the world. They’d do anything for anybody.”
Family and friends described Peter Pitamber as a kind man with a generous heart.
“He was a great individual,” said friend Ravin Kalu. “He would always support anything that needed him.”
He said Peter Pitamber would donate to good causes throughout the community, and even gave money to a school back in his native Guyana.
“It will be a great, great loss (to the community),” Kalu said. “He will be missed.”
He sponsored many local sports teams, and was always the first to offer free food for local events, or help when needed, he said.
And both Peter, Sita and their sons were mainstays at the local West Indian restaurant, meeting and greeting customers every day. And they would never turn anyone away, even if they had no money to pay, said family members.
When asked how Paul Rampersaud was coping, his niece said, “He’s broken.”
There were unconfirmed reports that the carbon monoxide detectors in the home were quietly beeping, but not loud enough to wake up the family.
The coroner is now investigating the deaths.
There will be a wake held at the Calypso Hut at Queen and Rutherford. The family is Hindu and their traditions will be followed, but a date has not yet been set for the funeral, according to family members.
While Peter owned the Queen Street restaurant, his brother Paul owns a Calypso Hut at Britannia Road and Dixie Road in Mississauga. The first Calypso Hut opened in 1987, followed by Paul's location in 1990 and Peter's in 1993.
A third brother, Stanley, owns a Calypso Hut in Guyana.
The family came to Canada in the 1970s and worked hard to become successful in business. Paul moved his Calypso Hut from Melanie Drive down to Mississauga not that long ago.
Neighbours expressed shock at the deaths.
“It’s terrible,” said one man. “What a way to go.”
Neighbour Franklin Lalla said he was “still shaking” from the news.
And relative Babu Kathiravelu, 53, said he already has carbon monoxide detectors, but he is going to get more for his home.
Carbon monoxide detectors are mandatory under a newly passed Ontario law.
During this past winter's ice storm, people were using their propane heaters to warm their houses, and police warned residents of the dangers of such a practice.
It is not known where the family got the heaters. The neighbourhood lost power for about a day during the ice storm, but none of the neighbours were aware of the family using propane heaters at that time.
A police spokesperson says it looks as if the family "made a tragic choice" last night.
