Alarm call saved the lives of an elderly couple

Tag : Alarm Call
AN EARLY morning alarm call saved the lives of an elderly couple,who were rushed to hospital suffering from smoke inhalation andsuspected carbon monoxide poisoning.
Elizabeth and Peter Stewart, of Brierbush Road, Macmerry, rose fromtheir beds last Friday morning feeling dizzy and unwell, havingleft their coal fire lit throughout the night.
The couple had lit the fire after returning home from a holidaylast Thursday evening, unaware that their home was filling withdeadly smoke  understood to have been caused by a suspectedblockage in the chimney  as they slept.
Peters sister Morag, who lives in nearby Westbank Gardens, rushedto the aid of the couple when Elizabeth collapsed in the shower andthen raised the alarm.
Morag told the Courier: She phoned me at 6.45am and all I couldget from her was come, come.
I got such a fright, I just ran over and I was completelypanicking when I left.
When she arrived, Elizabeth had managed to get downstairs andPeter, 73, was vomiting upstairs.
Said Morag: I was horrified when I saw them  they could hardlymove.
I couldnt see any smoke but there was a strong smell of it.
Shortly after Morags arrival, an ambulance and firefighters werecalled to the couples home.
After the Stewarts were taken to hospital, Tranent firefightersventilated the property and removed the coal from the fire.
The couple were placed on ventilators at the hospital and allowedhome that evening.
Morag explained that if the couple hadnt set their alarm clock to ensure they made an appointment in Edinburgh the next day  theconsequences could have been fatal.
They were extremely lucky that their own alarm went off, saidMorag.
Another hour and who knows what would have happened.
Elizabeth and Peter stayed with their daughter in Dunfermlinebefore returning home on Sunday.
Tranent fire station sub-officer Joe Stockman told the Courier:There has possibly been a blockage in the lining of the chimneywhich caused smoke to come back into the sitting room.
I believe that the couple hadnt used the fire during the summerand it could be that this time gap caused the blockage.
Neighbours told us they had witnessed a lot of smoke coming fromthe property.
Macmerry and Gladsmuir Community Council chairwoman Maureen Cuthillsaid: Its quite frightening to hear that this has happened. Iwould urge elderly people to ensure that their chimney is sweptregularly.
This elderly couple needs somebody to advise them how to lookafter their fire.
The couple declined to comment. Its not known whether they had asmoke alarm.