Update: Firefighters Suspect Carbon Monoxide Poisoning In Man’s Death

An open oven door and a strong smell of gas.

That’s what firefighters said they noticed when they entered the home at 2620 Porter in Central El Paso to investigate reports of a possible carbon monoxide death.

A spokesman told ABC-7 the body of an elderly man was lying on the floor when firefighters entered the home. They suspect the man was using his oven to keep warm and was killed by the poisonous gas, though they will have to wait for an autopsy report to determine if the official cause of death.

Friends and family identified the man as boxing legend Gil Holguin.

“He was a nice person, and got along with everyone in this neighborhood,” said his son Jose Holguin.

Holguin said his father was nicknamed ‘Champ’ because of his past as a boxer.

Gilberto ‘Gil’ Holguin was a member of the El Paso Boxing and Karate Hall of Fame.

He was also known by many as a man who dedicated his time to helping at-risk youth.

“He used to be a boxer for the Golden Gloves and he used to have training sessions for the kids,” said Richard Davila, Holguin’s friend..

Investigators continued to look into the possiblity that Holguin may have died from carbon monoxide poisoning Friday night.

Holguin’s close friends told ABC-7 they will think twice about using gas stoves and ovens as alternatives to heaters.

“I never thought it would happen to somebody that I knew,” said Davila.

Holguin’s official cause of death will be determined by a report from the medical examiner’s office.

If it does turn out to be carbon monoxide poisoning, this would be the third carbon monoxide poisoning incident in less than two weeks in El Paso, and the first to turn deadly this fall.

Carbon monoxide is a colorless and odorless gas that can’t be detected by the human senses. Symptoms of poisoning include dizziness, headaches and nausea.

Carbon monoxide detectors cost between $20 and $40 dollars at hardware stores.