Cornwall campers narrowly avoid carbon monoxide deaths

Five people rushed to hospital with suspected poisoning after going to sleep with a smouldering barbecue in their tent Five campers were taken to hospital with suspected carbon monoxide poisoning after taking a lit barbecue into their tent. The five, who are believed to be members of the same family, were rushed to the Royal Cornwall Hospital following the incident at a caravan park near the resort of Newquay. It is thought the family went to sleep with the smouldering barbecue in the tent on Monday night. Fortunately, one of the occupants woke up and people staying in the tent next door helped get all five out shortly after midnight Tuesday. Shaun Taylor, the watch manager at Newquay fire station, said: “We discovered they had a lit barbecue inside the tent. Any item that produces heat or vapours can cause carbon monoxide poisoning. That was our concern. “If the dad hadn’t woken up and the people in the next tent hadn’t got the people out we would have been looking at a very sad and serious situation this morning.” The two adults and three children were staying at the Trevella Caravan Park, at Crantock near Newquay. A spokesman for Cornwall fire and rescue service said: “Five casualties (two adults and three children) were found to be suffering the effects of this odourless and colourless gas. “The cause of this incident is believed to have been a barbecue appliance that was inside their tent.” The five were all later released from hospital. It is the second time this summer that such an incident has happened. In July three holidaymakers was taken to hospital with suspected carbon monoxide poisoning after a similar incident at a campsite near Padstow, north Cornwall, when a smouldering barbecue was taken into tent. Then the fire service warned: “Never take a smouldering barbecue into a tented area or confined area with no ventilation as [it] will give off carbon monoxide fumes.” Steven Morris guardian.co.uk

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