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Cornish family escape 'potentially fatal dose' of carbon monoxide Barking boxer dog saves Canworthy Water carbon monoxide family
(about 5 hours later)
A family of four escaped a "potentially fatal dose" of carbon monoxide, Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service (CFRS) has said. A barking dog has saved its family's life when their Cornish home was filled with a "potentially fatal dose" of carbon monoxide (CO).
CFRS was called to the Canworthy Water property at about 02:00 GMT after two boys aged four and seven became sick. Poppy the boxer dog raised the alarm at the Canworthy Water property in the early hours.
The mother and one son were treated and discharged from Derriford Hospital. The father and second son are being treated in a hyperbaric chamber. Liz Boult, her sons Charlie Prewett, seven, and Ollie Prewitt, four, and Ms Boult's partner Richard Harris were taken to Derriford Hospital.
CFRS said the amount of gas detected could have killed them within minutes. A wood-burning stove is thought to have produced potentially lethal CO levels.
Lee Griffin, from the fire service, said: "The family were in an extremely dangerous position. Inhaling the colourless, odourless gas reduces the blood's ability to carry oxygen.
"Potentially within ten minutes to half an hour this family may not be here today." Ms Boult and Ollie were treated and later discharged from hospital, but Charlie and Mr Harris are being treated in a hyperbaric chamber at the nearby Diving Diseases Research Centre (DDRC).
The property has been ventilated with a fan to remove the gas and also fitted with two smoke detectors. Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service said the amount of CO detected in the house could have killed the family within minutes.
Dr Christine Cridge, the DDRC's medical director said the family was "very lucky" to survive.
"Richard's a big hunk of a man, but when he found Charlie unconscious on the bathroom floor, he was so weak he could hardly lift him," she told BBC News.
"Thanks to prompt treatment, Richard and Charlie are doing really well - they've had two treatments of hyperbaric oxygen therapy and we'll do another one tomorrow."
It is not clear whether the family pet detected the gas, or was barking because she was unwell.
"They used to send canaries down mines, so although I'm not a vet, maybe Poppy was being affected by the gas herself because animals are smaller," Dr Cridge added.