STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — A Staten Island veterinarian died from accidental carbon monoxide poisoning while operating on a dog inside a mobile clinic van in Queens, according to the New York Daily News.
Ashraf Hussein, 56 of Eltingville, was found dead inside the van on Feb. 1, which had been parked beside a large snowbank in Flushing, and the dog he was operating on also did not survive.
The Daily News said the city’s medical examiner confirmed the cause of death was carbon monoxide poisoning on Thursday. The medical examiner’s office has not responded to a request for comment.
The clinic’s owner, 73‑year‑old Garo Alexanian, was discovered unconscious outside after a witness called 911, Advance/SILive.com previously reported.
Ashraf Hussein died while performing surgery on a dog inside a mobile vet clinic.Courtsey of Mahmoud Hussein
Alexanian later told a bystander, according to the report, that he and Hussein had been trapped in the poorly ventilated van for hours before he managed to escape and collapse on the sidewalk.
Investigators believe the exhaust pipe may have become clogged with snow, filling the van with deadly fumes, according to the outlet.
Hussein, who worked for the mobile clinic for more than 15 years, was described by his wife, 46-year-old Marwa Mansour, as a devoted veterinarian who loved animals deeply.
“He would get off work and drive all the way down to Queens. It wasn’t about the money,” Mansour said to the Advance/SILive.com. “He would literally volunteer on Tuesday and Saturday. That’s when he passed away on Saturday. That’s how much he loved his job.”
A GoFundMe created by the Voices for the Voiceless community described Hussein as a compassionate person.
“Even in his final moments, he was doing what he had always done — showing up to serve, putting the needs of others before his own,“ the fundraiser said. ”His sudden passing has left an immeasurable void in the hearts of the many families and pet owners who trusted him. The lives he saved, the comfort he gave, and the dignity with which he practiced his work will never be forgotten.”
The proceeds raised will go toward covering the doctor’s funeral expenses.
Calls for an investigation
In the aftermath, the family was overwhelmed with grief and searching for answers. Mansour has repeatedly questioned how conditions inside the van led to her husband’s death.
“We want to know: How could this happen?“ Mansour questioned. ”Who was responsible?”
Hussein was laid to rest Tuesday at MAS Staten Island, located at 180 Burgher Ave. in Dongan Hills. He is survived by his wife, Marwa Mansour, and children, Yousef, Omar and Mahmoud Hussein.