Sydney family suffers charcoal poisoning
AAP
June 23, 2015, 8:26 am
The family dragged this charcoal burner into their living room. Photo: Seven News
A western Sydney family is lucky to be alive after suffering carbon monoxide poisoning from bringing an outdoor charcoal burner into their living room.
Paramedics were called Lethbridge St in Penrith just after 1am on Tuesday to reports a patient was unconscious.
Fire & Rescue Superintendent Tom Cooper said two adults and two children had dragged a charcoal burner into the lounge room and gone to sleep around it.
"They were using it to try and keep warm," Supt Cooper said on Tuesday.
The mother and two children are being treated in Nepean hospital for serious carbon monoxide poisoning.
NSW Ambulance said the father drove his family to the hospital and doctors determined they were suffering from carbon monoxide poisoning.
"We could have been looking at four fatalities," Supt Cooper told AAP.
He said people need to be reminded about the dangers of using barbecue beads inside a house.
Four people from Bankstown were hospitalised on Monday after bringing an outdoor heater indoors, he said.
Just two weeks ago a young Sydney couple died at a semi-rural property at Kurrajong after they were overcome by carbon monoxide gas from a makeshift wood-fire heater.
