5 women escape gas leak

FIVE elderly women had a lucky escape yesterday after they were overcome by carbon monoxide while enjoying afternoon tea.

Four of the friends were being treated in hospital last night following the incident, which happened at about 6.30pm, at the house on Railway Road in the west Clare town of Kilkee.

The five local women, who meet every week, had been enjoying tea in the house when one complained of feeling unwell and went home.

Soon afterwards, her husband became concerned about her and called a doctor. The doctor established that the woman was suffering the effects of what he believed to be carbon monoxide poisoning and asked where she had been.

Her husband went to the house where he discovered the woman’s four friends in different states of consciousness and quickly raised the alarm. It is believed some of the women were found unconscious on the floor.

He called the emergency services, reporting that he could smell gas in the area. He helped the women from the building and remained with them until emergency crews arrived.

Ambulances from Kilrush and Ennis, a rapid response advanced paramedic unit from Ennis and a local doctor rushed to the scene. Gardaí cordoned off the area while fire crews searched the house for the source of the leak. They suspected the gas was leaking from a bulk tank at the rear of the house.

However, it is also understood that a chimney in the house had become blocked by a bird nest, preventing fumes from escaping.

Medics treated the women at the scene before four of them were taken to Ennis General Hospital. It is not thought that any of the women are seriously ill but they were being assessed last night. The woman who first became ill was treated at home by her doctor.

Fire crews remained at the scene for several hours until technicians checked the gas tank and appliances. Fire personnel also vented the house to ensure all traces of the carbon monoxide had been cleared.