Sask oil industry worker dies from sour gas poisoning

Kara Bunz said she had no idea how dangerous her husband Michael's job was. 

Michael Bunz, 38, sold chemicals to the oil industry in southeast Saskatchewan. As part of his work he would regularly do testing at well sites. 

• Sour gas from oil wells a deadly problem in southeast Saskatchewan

Kara said she knew something was wrong, on the morning of May 22 last year. Michael didn't answer her texts or phone calls. 

Then just before noon, "I got a phone call from his boss that he was hurt. And he was gone."

"I got the autopsy report, so I know 100 per cent that it was H2S gas," Bunz said. 

The coroner's office confirmed that with CBC's iTeam.

Michael left behind two little girls. 

"It's been horrible. Absolutely horrible. I've been with my husband since I was 16 years old," Bunz said. 

Occupational Health and Safety confirmed it's investigating, but declined any comment. 

Saskatchewan's Ministry of Economy is sounding the alarm about a growing problem with sour gas leaks in southeast Saskatchewan. 

At this point it's unknown if leaks played any role in his death. 

Bunz said the wait for answers is painful. 

"It is hard living every single day not knowing, not knowing what happened."

She said regardless of why Michael was exposed to H2S that day, she hopes his death sends a powerful message to industry and government. 

"I just hope they take the precautions that they need to so they can go home to their families at night," Bunz said.