Man dies after swallowing cyanide during arrest in Macedon Ranges
A man has died after swallowing cyanide during an arrest in the Macedon Ranges, and five police officers potentially exposed to the substance were taken to hospital.
Victoria Police said officers visited a house in the town of Kyneton, about 86 kilometres north-west of Melbourne, about 2pm on Tuesday as part of an investigation.
“Police immediately called for medical assistance and performed CPR on the man, however, he was unable to be revived,” police said in a statement on Wednesday.
“At this early stage, it appears the man may have ingested some sort of substance. As a result, five police officers who attended the scene were taken to hospital as a precaution.”
On Thursday, three police sources with knowledge of the incident, but not authorised to speak publicly, confirmed to The Age that the substance the man swallowed was sodium cyanide.
Historically, different forms of cyanide have been used as a lethal poison in several high-profile murders, such as the Jonestown massacre.
