Sailing couple nearly die of carbon monoxide poisoning during (From Gazette)

Sailing couple nearly die of carbon monoxide poisoning during

12:20pm Wednesday 20th April 2011 in News By Dave Lambert

Relieved – Paul and Sue Paul back home

A COUPLE almost died from carbon monoxide poisoning after a generator leaked on their yacht.

Paul and Susan Paul, both 61, were anchored at Mersea Stone, about a mile from Brightlingsea, when they started to feel the effects.

Mrs Paul fell unconscious, leaving her husband battling to get them to safety.

The carbon monoxide poisoning was caused by a leak in the tubing connected to the generator, which let exhaust fumes flood into the boat.

Mr Paul said: “The first point I was aware something was going on was when I got weird muscle spasms.

“Then my wife passed out and I knew that something was very wrong. I became very weak myself, and I couldn’t have been far off passing out.

“I realised what it might be and got some fresh air into my lungs, and then radioed the coastguard with a panpan message, which is for when you need urgent medical assistance.

“They asked if I could get the boat to Brightlingsea harbour, and I did just about. I had to pull up the anchor by hand which wasn’t easy.

“It is amazing what people can do when they have to and there is adrenaline flowing.”

The couple, of Francis Street, Brightlingsea, were met at the harbour by a first response team, paramedics and coastguards.

They were treated with oxygen and rushed to Colchester General Hospital in an ambulance. Mrs Paul had a carbon monoxide level of 9.9 per cent, while her husband was at 8 per cent. She had to be kept in overnight, but both were back to normal the following day.

Mr Paul added: “I’d like to thank the emergency services who helped us, because they were all excellent.

“It was quite a grim experience, and very scary. In the end it was lucky I worked out what was causing it and could do something about it. It has made me far more aware of carbon monoxide and how dangerous it can be.

“I’m going to find a way of running the generator without the tubing, but I’m still going to have a carbon monoxide detector next to it from now on.

“We are going to go and get thoroughly checked out by a doctor as well, to make sure there won’t be any lasting damage. Hopefully our story will be a warning to everyone else. With carbon monoxide poisoning, you don’t know it’s happening until it’s got you. It’s so dangerous.”