Family rushed to hospital for suspected carbon monoxide poisoning

A family of six has been rushed to hospital in Sydney’s west on Tuesday morning after an outdoor charcoal heater was brought indoors, causing suspected carbon monoxide poisoning.

The four adults and two children were sleeping in their Merrylands home when one family member woke up and complained they were feeling ill.

Emergency services were called to the scene just before 5am to assist the individual before paramedics and firefighters determined the illness was likely due to the outdoor charcoal heater, which had been brought in to warm the house overnight.

As a result, the four adults were taken to Westmead Hospital and the two children taken to Westmead Children’s Hospital.

A spokesman from Fire and Rescue NSW said the household was lucky to still be alive. The incident was a timely reminder not to bring outdoor heaters inside, the spokesman added.

Paramedics, firefighters and police were called to the scene just before 5am on Tuesday.Credit:Nine News

“It’s a big no-no. It replaces oxygen with carbon, so it’s lucky we are not talking about six deaths. It will just put you to sleep and then to death,” he said.

“It’s fortunate someone did get up in the night for whatever reason, and they did call paramedics. This has been a tragedy avoided.”

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