College student 'commits suicide by inhaling sewer gas inside his apartment' near Texas university campus leaving 11 others injured

A college student in his 20s committed suicide by inhaling 'sewer gas' inside his apartment located near the University of Texas at Austin campus, officials said.

He was found unconscious inside a closet by emergency crew who rushed to the 21 Pearl building on the West Campus Wednesday afternoon on reports of a medical emergency. 

The student, who has not been identified or confirmed as a UT student, was found inside the closet which had a handwritten note on the door that read: 'Danger: Watch out' and named the chemical he is believed to have killed himself with. 

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A college student in his 20s committed suicide by inhaling 'sewer gas' inside his apartment located near the University of Texas at Austin campus, officials said 

Students said they smelled sulfur as hundreds were evacuated from a building on the West Campus in Austin on Wednesday afternoon

When emergency crews entered the apartment, the man was in cardiac arrest before he was pronounced dead at the scene, Commander Mike Benavides, Public Information Officer for Austin-Travis County EMS, told Daily Mail Online on Wednesday night.

Benavides said authorities are still investigating how the victim got the gas inside the apartment.

He also noted that the six people transported to hospital included a man and woman both in their 40s, two women in their 20s and a man in his 20s.

As for those treated at the scene, they included a man in his 30s, four women in their 20s and the victim before he was pronounced dead.

Benavides said they attempted resuscitation measures for one hour on the victim, however they were unsuccessful in their efforts to revive him.

He also said EMS initially responded to a cardiac arrest call before an assessment of the scene led to it being upgraded to a toxic exposure and hazmat call.

Austin firefighters responded to a hazardous materials call from an apartment at the complex and found a man believed to be in his 20s dead at the scene, said Austin Fire Department Lieutenant Kevin Haas

Emergency responders enter the apartment complex on Wednesday. It was unclear where the gas came from, although Haas said the victim likely released it from a container brought into the apartment

Six people were taken with non-life-threatening injuries to a hospital, and five others refused care, Austin-Travis County Emergency Medical Services spokesman Captain Darren Noak said

It was not immediately clear if the student was the only person inside the apartment, however Austin Fire Department Lt Kevin Haas said as far as he knows the student was the only one inside at the time.

Benavides also said it seemed that the victim was removed from the apartment and was taken to a well-ventilated area around the same time the building was being evacuated.

It is believed the student committed suicide by inhaling the gas however medical examiners will determine the official cause of death, according to the New York Daily News.  

Eleven people, including the building manager, suffered from non-life threatening injuries after being exposed to the toxic fumes, according to the Austin-Travis County EMS. 

Firefighters in hazmat gear evacuated the building where around 300 to 400 people reside, according to the Austin Fire Department (AFD).

The emergency responders decontaminated the building and evacuated residents on Wednesday

The entire 136-unit building was evacuated to ensure the safety of its residents

Francoise Luca, a representative for the building's management, told the Daily News that the entire 136-unit building was evacuated to ensure the safety of its residents.

Luca also noted that the man was a student and had been living in the building, however it was not possible to confirm he was a UT student. 

Following the incident, a woman, who is the building manager, was taken to the hospital along with five others, according to KXAN. Five others were treated at the scene. 

Authorities were alerted on Wednesday afternoon after students said they smelled sulfur.

Photos on social media showed emergency workers and vehicles including a fire truck on a street that had been blocked off from traffic. 

The property managers of 21 Pearl released a statement on Wednesday saying: 'Today at approximately 2:00 p.m. there was a report of a foul smelling odor at our 21 Pearl apartment complex in West Campus. 

The building, marked Lee Properties, is just outside the University of Texas campus in Austin and is home to around 400 people

'Our onsite management team quickly investigated and found the source of the odor. They also found a student unconscious in his apartment. 

'The Austin Fire Department and police department were called and they evacuated the building to ensure the safety of all our residents. 

'Tragically the student resident died and one of our staff members was taken to the hospital for evaluation. 

'Our heartfelt sympathy goes out to the family and friends of the deceased. Law enforcement will be conducting a full investigation of this accident. 

'The Austin Fire Department will advise us when it is safe for all residents and staff to return to the building. 

'The safety and well being of our residents and staff is our first priority, and we will be cooperating with the authorities to resolve this situation as quickly as possible. 

'We appreciate the patience of our residents during this process.'

As of Wednesday evening the building was being ventilated.

Wednesday's incident comes as the university is mourning the loss of freshman Haruka Weiser, 18, who was was found murdered on campus last week after she was reportedly sexually assaulted and then strangled to death.