Mother & son dead after carbon monoxide poisoning triggered by generator
Posted December 24, 2013 8:50 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
A mother and her son trying to stay warm in the wake of Sunday’s ice storm have died in what appears to be a case of carbon monoxide poisoning, triggered by nearby generator.
Emergency crews were called to a home in Newcastle, east of Bowmanville, Monday afternoon after several residents reported feeling ill.
A 52-year-old Newcastle man and his 72-year-old mother were rushed to hospital but did not survive.
Neighbours identified the man as Randy Hancock. They said he lived in the home with his wife and two sons. His mother was visiting at the time.
Investigators believe carbon monoxide seeped into the house from a gas-powered generator that was found supplying heat to the home.
The generator was running in the garage. According to police, there was no access to the house from the garage but the carbon monoxide still made its way inside the house.
Newscastle had been without power since early Sunday until being restored on Monday evening.
Click here for fire safety tips during a blackout.
Emergency Medical Services say that way too many people are being taken to hospital for carbon monoxide poisoning in the wake of the ice storm.
Police are warning residents that running a gas generator, barbecue or other similar device too close to a residence can lead to carbon monoxide poisoning.
Paramedics had to rush to treat another man, who was unconscious, after carbon monoxide seeped into his home from a generator that was also set up in the garage. He and his wife were rushed to hospital but are expected to be okay.
