Poison gas fumes Bridgnorth family cheat death

A family today revealed how they cheated death after escaping as carbon monoxide fumes filled their home.

The Barras family stumbled to safety despite the deadly gas causing them to black out at their home near Bridgnorth. The gas,which starves the brain of oxygen, left Steve and Sally Barras and their young children Tom, 10, and Scarlet, eight, unable to think properly, dizzy and sick.

Mrs Barras said it took them some time to realise what was happening to them at their home in Harpswood before they raised the alarm at about 5.40am on Sunday.

The family were treated at the scene by an ambulance crew before being taken to Telford's Princess Royal Hospital.

The couple have now fitted two carbon monoxide alarms at their Ludlow Road home and are urging others to do the same.

Mrs Barras said: "In the early hours of Sunday morning we had the need to call upon the emergency services. We were initially unaware of what the problem was but over a short period the whole family were feeling dizzy, nauseous and blacking out.

"With brains starved of oxygen it took some time to make some sensible decisions and realise the problem was carbon monoxide poisoning. The response from NHS Direct, ambulance, fire and police services was exceptional as was the service when we arrived at Telford hospital A & E."

Mrs Barras said: "We shut down our Rayburn heater but because it was so cold the coal wasn't able to burn properly and began producing carbon monoxide. It can happen with any boiler."

She added: "I would encourage any home which has oil, gas or coal fires to install a carbon monoxide alarm today."

Nigel Morrison, Rayburn brand manager, said carbon monoxide is produced by incomplete burning of carbon-based fuels, has no taste, smell or colour and can be present in fumes of gas, oil, solid mineral fuel or biomass burning appliances.

He added:?"High levels are potentially fatal.

"If you suspect a CO escape you should turn the appliance off, open doors and windows, leave the building immediately and, if you feel unwell, call your doctor."