Trailblazing model dies from suspected carbon monoxide poisoning

Dayle Haddon, a pioneering former "Sports Illustrated" model, actor, and activist who challenged age discrimination by returning to the industry as a widow, has passed away due to suspected carbon monoxide poisoning.

The 76 year old was found deceased in a second-floor bedroom of a house in Solebury Township, Pennsylvania, on Friday morning following a call to emergency dispatchers about an unconscious person. Also affected was a 76 year old man, later identified as Walter J. Blucas from Erie, who is now in critical condition in hospital.

High levels of carbon monoxide were detected at the property, and on Saturday, township police confirmed that a defective flue and exhaust pipe on a gas heating system were to blame for the deadly leak. Two medics required hospital treatment for exposure to the toxic gas, while a police officer received treatment at the scene.

In her heyday as a model, Haddon graced the covers of prestigious magazines such as Vogue, Cosmopolitan, Elle, and Esquire during the 1970s and 1980s, including featuring in the 1973 Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue. Her acting career spanned approximately two dozen films from the 1970s through the 1990s, with credits listed on IMDb.com, such as the 1994 film "Bullets Over Broadway," which starred John Cusack and was directed by Woody Allen.

Haddon, who initially left the modelling world after giving birth to her daughter, Ryan, in the mid-1970s, was forced to return to work following her husband's death in 1991. However, she found the industry less welcoming this time around: "They said to me, ‘At 38, you’re not viable,’" Haddon revealed to The New York Times in 2003.

Taking a job at an advertising agency, Haddon began approaching cosmetic companies, highlighting the growing market for beauty products aimed at ageing baby boomers. She eventually secured contracts with Clairol, Estée Lauder and L’Oreal, promoting their anti-ageing products for over a decade.

In 2008, Haddon founded WomenOne, an organisation dedicated to improving educational opportunities for girls and women in marginalised communities, including Rwanda, Haiti and Jordan.

Haddon's daughter, Ryan, paid tribute to her mother in a social media post, describing her as "everyone’s greatest champion. An inspiration to many.

"A pure heart. A rich inner life. Touching so many lives. A life well lived. Rest in Light, Mom," she said.