Safety warning issued following CO deaths

Article date : 09/08/2010

Residents living in the Castlerock and Coleraine areas of Northern Ireland have been advised to report any central heating service or other work on gas appliances they have had carried out recently.

The advice from the Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland (HSENI) comes after two teenagers were killed by carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning while staying at a holiday apartment in Castlerock, while another ended up in hospital.

It has been established that a liquefied petroleum gas appliance in the Tunnel Brae Court flat was responsible for the leak.

The watchdog is now carrying out gas safety checks in the area and is advising any person who has had work conducted by George Brown, trading as George Brown of The Calor Shop - a separate legal entity to Calor Gas - in Coleraine, to switch off all of their gas appliances.

Aaron Davidson and Neil McFerran, both 18, died last week while celebrating the end of their A-levels.

Symptoms of CO poisoning include nausea, headaches, dizziness, fainting and unconsciousness.

A regular boiler service, carried out by a qualified member of the Gas Safe Register, can help to identify if gas appliances pose such a risk.

Written by Jasper Cullen

ADNFCR-1600-ID-800019689-ADNFCR