Yankees legend Brett Gardner told tragic son's cause of death after teen falls ill on holiday

Baseballer Brett Gardner's son Miller died of "asphyxiation" which had initially been believed to have been caused following a bout of food poisoning during a holiday in Costa Rica

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The teenage son of New York Yankees legend Brett Gardner may have died as a result of carbon monoxide poisoning, Costa Rican authorities said.

Miller, 14, died suddenly after falling ill during a family holiday in Costa Rica. It was thought the teenager, whose body was discovered in the family's hotel room, had suffered food poisoning but authorities have since investigated the tragedy further.

Now, it is understood there were "high levels of carbon monoxide contamination" in the hotel room. Randall Zúñiga, general director of Costa Rica's Judicial Investigations Agency (OIJ), told reporters yesterday it is believed this contamination may have caused Miller's death last month.

"It's also important to note that next to [the family's] room there is a specialised machine room, from which it is believed some form of contamination may have reached the guest rooms, potentially causing the incident," Mr Zúñiga told the media at a virtual press conference.

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Carbon monoxide poisoning has not yet been confirmed as the official cause of death as officials await the final toxicology results amid the ongoing investigation. However, an investigative team specialising in dangerous gases carried out the inspection inside the Gardner family's hotel room under the jurisdiction of the fire department Friday, leading to the discovery of the perilously high levels of carbon monoxide.

Mr Zúñiga continued: "The initial investigative findings indicate that the incident was due to this contamination, with levels as high as 600 parts per million detected — when the appropriate level in this case should be zero. That led us to the line of investigation that this person [Miller] could have died from inhaling these dangerous gases."

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He added that the OIJ had notified the local Fire Department and Ministry of Health in order for "appropriate action" to be taken regarding the "confirmed contamination in the room." Mr Zúñiga reiterated that the agency was working in tandem with the FBI in the United States while they "wait for the final results from forensic toxicology."

Speaking last month, a Gardner family statement had read: "With heavy hearts we are saddened to announce the passing of our youngest son, Miller. He was 14 years old and has left us far too soon after falling ill along with several other family members while on vacation.

"We have so many questions and so few answers at this point, but we do know that he passed away peacefully in his sleep on the morning of Friday, March 21st.

"Miller was a beloved son and brother and we cannot yet comprehend our life without his infectious smile. He loved football, baseball, golf, hunting, fishing, his family and his friends."