Personal Injury Solicitors

The father of a new bride who died from carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning has made a film to warn others of the dangers of CO poisoning.

London newspaper the Evening Standard reports that Katie Haines, 31, was found by her husband at their home in Wokingham in February 2010, after she was overpowered by “a cloud of CO” from a deadly gas boiler in the couple’s home.

Mrs and Mrs Haines had just returned from honeymoon in Brazil and an inquest at Reading heard that the couple had been warned that the boiler was faulty, putting them at risk from carbon monoxide poisoning.

They had organised a visit from a heating engineer, but this was cancelled and as the couple were busy, they put off arranging another engineer’s visit.
Mr Haines, 37, told the inquest that the couple’s smoke alarm had broken, and they had bought a new one which had a carbon monoxide detector. However, the device had not even been unpacked from its box when Mrs Haines died, as they did not realise the importance of having a CO detector in the home.

Mrs Haines died while having a bath at home, the inquest heard – she had drowned after being overcome by CO fumes from the boiler and slipped under the bath water unconscious.

CO gas is colourless and has no smell – but in large concentrations can quickly cause symptoms of dizziness and listlessness, with victims soon subsiding into unconsciousness and death from CO poisoning.

Faulty boilers, water heaters, gas cookers – and even a combination of these in a room filled with cigarette smoke, which also emits CO fumes – can lead to people suffering symptoms of CO poisoning.

Leaving a door or window open while cooking and smoking cigarettes and making sure all gas equipment is Gas Safe inspected – as well as fitting a CO alarm – can prevent illness and death from CO poisoning.

Camping gas stoves should also never be used in small enclosed spaces, such as small balconies, caravans, mobile homes or indoors – and camping gas appliances such as barbecues should never be used outside small enclosed spaces such as tents, cars, beach huts or mobile homes, as CO fumes can easily drift in and overcome anyone inside.

Mrs Haines’ father – Mayfair art dealer Gordon Samuel – and her mother Avril have set up the Katie Haines Memorial Trust charity, which has produced a one-minute film warning of the dangers of CO poisoning. They are also calling for a change in the law to make the installation of CO alarms mandatory when carbon-burning equipment is used in homes.

Mr Samuels told the Evening Standard:

“She was overcome by a cloud of the deadly gas from the boiler. It is so simple to prevent – and yet causes so much heartache and anguish to the families of victims.”

Duncan Lewis Personal Injury Solicitors – Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Compensation Claims

Duncan Lewis is a leading firm of personal injury solicitors and can advise victims and their families on how to make no win no fee Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Compensation Claims if CO poisoning occurs as a result of negligence, including:

• Bogus Gas Safety engineers
• CO poisoning in public places (offices, leisure centres, schools and colleges)
• Faulty boilers, water heaters, gas stoves
• Faulty gas installations
• Poorly maintained holiday accommodation or hotels
• Rental accommodation without a current landlord’s Gas Safe certificate.

For expert legal advice on no win no fee Carbon Monoxide Compensation Claims, call Duncan Lewis personal injury solicitors on 020 7923 4020.