Man dies from inhaling charcoal fumes

Updated at 3.38pm: A 25-year-old man committed suicide by inhaling fumes from burning charcoal at Chai Wan early on Monday, police said.

The man, surnamed Lee, was found dead in the bathroom of his home at Lee Tsui House, Wan Tsui Estate after inhaling excessive charcoal fumes about midnight, a police spokeswoman said.

Lee's father, 64, told police he found the windows closed and the room filled with fumes.

A police spokeswoman said a suicide note was found on the top of a washing machine. ''It said Lee committed suicide because of illness,'' she said.

The man began burning the charcoal while family members were out. He was last seen by his elder sister about 3pm on Sunday, the spokeswoman said.