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POISON GAS LEAK KILLS GUEST AT RESORT HOTEL
A poison gas leak killed a guest at a Newquay hotel and sparked a night-time evacuation of the building.
An investigation has been launched into the death of the businessman.The body of the man, in his 50s, was found in a room of the Great Western Hotel, Cliff Road, at 1pm on Saturday.
A post-mortem examination revealed that the man from South Wales died from carbon monoxide poisoning - possibly from the newly-refurbished hotel's heating system.
A formal identification of the body was due to take place on Tuesday afternoon, after the Newquay Guardian went to press.
Police and environmental health officers have launched a joint investigation into the man's death while the Great Western remains closed this week.
It was only the quick-thinking of two paramedics that prevented other hotel guests from falling ill and possibly prevented more fatalities.
Newquay-based paramedics Christian Brown and Jo McGloughlin were called to hotel after the man was thought to have died from a heart attack.
Later that day, both began suffering from headaches and nausea and linked their symptoms to carbon monoxide poisoning.
They retraced their steps to work out where they could have been exposed to the deadly gas and suspected the hotel.
Firefighters were called at 11pm that night and carried out an inspection of the building which revealed dangerously high levels of the deadly gas.
Carbon monoxide is dubbed the silent killer because it has no taste, smell or colour.
An evacuation of the premises was then carried out with more than 100 people being sent to stay at other hotels in the resort.
Three guests and another paramedic, Ali Randall, were taken to the Royal Cornwall Hospital, Treliske, Truro, suffering from the symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning.
All have made a full recovery.
Insp Jim Pearce, of Newquay police, said: "Cornwall Fire Service vented the affected area.
The heating system, a possible source, was shut down.
"Levels have now returned to a safe limit and hotel staff remain on the premises but the hotel will now remain closed to guests until the source of the carbon monoxide has been established."
A Devon and Cornwall Police spokesman added: "The post-mortem examination has been completed and the initial findings are that the deceased did die from carbon monoxide poisoning.
"Police officers will now work closely with environmental health officers from Restormel Council to progress this enquiry."
The hotel only reopened six weeks ago following a five-month refurbishment which cost £1.1 million.
Sent: 23/04/2008
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