Electricity Cut Off Causes Mother Using an Oxygen Machine to Die

A 44-year-old New Zealand woman has died after the electricity in her home was cut off causing her oxygen machine to not work. The energy company cut off the power to her home after she did not pay a $122 bill, according to CNN.

Her death occurred on Tuesday, May 29, approximately two hours after the Mercury Energy company cut off the power to her home. The woman (and mother) Folole Muliaga, needed her oxygen tank to survive after falling ill. The New Zealand police, as well as the Mercury Energy company, are now investigating into her death.

James Moulder, the general manager of the power company, expressed his deep regret and sent his condolences to Muliaga's family. He has stated that Mercury Energy is looking into exactly how this could have happened.

Muliaga was a school teacher, but had fallen sick and had not been working since February of 2007. She was also a mother of four children, ranging between the ages of 5 and 20 years old. A relative provided a copy of her power bill and stated that she had fallen behind in her payments to the Mercury Energy company after becoming sick, according to CNN.

She was six days overdue of her bill of $122 as of Tuesday when a representative of Mercury Energy came to Muliaga's home to disconnect the power. A relative stated to the Associated Press that both Muliaga and her son told the Mercury Energy representative that Muliaga needed the oxygen machine to survive. The relative also stated that the representative was invited into the home by Muliaga to see the oxygen machine, but cut the power off instead.

Very soon after the power was cut off Muliaga became dizzy, faint, and had trouble breathing. Paramedics were called to the scene but were unsuccessful in their efforts to revive Muliaga. She was pronounced dead within two hours of the power being cut off to her home. It is not known whether the boy was with his mother when she actually died.

Reports are now relating that Muliaga family had been warned about the power cut off for six to seven weeks before the electricity was officially cut off on Tuesday.

New Zealand government will seek 'full accountability' from Mercury Energy if they are found to be guilty.

Associated Press, "Family: Mother on oxygen pump dies after power cut."CNN News.

URL: (http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/asiapcf/05/29/nz.lifesupport.ap/index.html)