Downtown 'Gas Leak' Emergency Turns Out To Be The World’s Smelliest Fruit

September 25, 2025

Residents in Lytham St Annes, England thought they were in danger when a suspicious odor sparked reports of a possible gas leak.

But what unfolded was less of an emergency, and more of a comedy.

Strongs Fruit and Veg

The mystery began when a Cadent gas engineer showed up at Strongs Fruit and Veg shop, leaving staff scratching their heads. Shop assistants Wai Peng Cheng and his partner Candy Pooi Kuan Lam hadn’t called anyone, and at first, they had no idea why an engineer was suddenly investigating their store.

As it turned out, the culprit wasn’t leaking pipes at all. It was the durian fruit, a spiky Southeast Asian delicacy infamous for its pungent smell.

“When he mentioned the smell and I told him it was the durian, he didn’t believe me at first,” Peng explained. “It was only when I took him outside and gave one to him that he realized.”

Durian fruit

The misunderstanding quickly turned into laughter.

Durian’s strong odor has been compared to rotting onions and is so powerful that it’s banned from hotels and public transport in parts of Asia. But for those who love it, the taste is described as creamy, sweet, and unlike anything else.

“We all just started laughing it was hilarious,” Peng said. “He then checked if there was any gas leak outside just to be sure but of course there wasn't before leaving at 4pm.”