A woman who was rescued from her home after firefighters found "very high" levels of a poisonous gas has issued a warning to others about checking their carbon monoxide detectors.
Joy Hopson has told people to make sure their alarms are in working order after she was taken to hospital suffering from carbon monoxide exposure and placed on oxygen for eight hours.
Emergency services were called to her property in the Guilsfield area, near Welshpool on Friday evening (January 7).
An inspection found that the build-up of carbon monoxide was as a result of the chimney cowl falling down the flue and acting as a dam for the soot, which has since been repaired.
Speaking to the County Times, Joy said: "I am recovering well physically but still a little shaken by the event, especially finding out from the fire service how different the outcome could have been and just how lucky I am.
"Also doubly thankful as it was the fire service that came and fitted carbon monoxide and fire alarms for free three years ago."
A firefighterfrom Llanfair Caereinion Station enters a property with high levels of carbon monoxide in the Guilsfield area. Pictures by Joy Hopson
What is carbon monoxide?
Carbon Monoxide is a highly poisonous gas that has no colour, taste or smell.
Fuel burning appliances such as stoves, fires, boilers and water heaters can produce carbon monoxide if they are incorrectly fitted, badly repaired or poorly maintained or if flues, chimneys or vents are blocked.
Joy has thanked Llanfair Caereinion Fire Station, Welshpool paramedics and the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital (RSH) for saving her life.
"My carbon monoxide detector went off, like a fool l attempted to manage the situation," she said. "It was quickly apparent l was seriously out of my depth.
"So, from the 999 operator who advised me to leave the house immediately, to the firefighters who arrived in 12 minutes, by then the fumes were so bad they could only enter wearing breathing apparatus.
"They were so competent and professional that even with the dangerously high readings of carbon monoxide they quickly had the situation under control.
"To the paramedics who acted promptly, whisking me off to RSH. To the nurses and doctors who gave me a full MOT and quickly put me on oxygen.
My lovely mum could have died from carbon monoxide poisoning tonight. Her chimney flue was blocked by a total fluke — if not for CO alarm in the front room, she would have gone to sleep and not woken up. Terrifying. So so glad her and cat are safe. Thank you @WelshpoolFire. pic.twitter.com/H3K1lTinRP
— E.J ‘Out of Touch’ HVB (@softwifed) January 8, 2022
"It took eight hours of oxygen and monitoring before my levels were back to normal. I know that l am very lucky.
"The moral of this story? Please everyone out there, go check your carbon monoxide detectors now!"
Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service provide further information on what to do to prevent Carbon Monoxide poisoning
A ‘Safe & Well’ check can be completed by the Fire and Rescue Service by calling 0800 169 1234 or via their website referral form.
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