A LITTLE girl's early morning call to her parents saved her family from the 'silent killer' carbon monoxide.

Jeremy and Sharon Hart, their four children and a young family friend were just minutes away from being fatally overcome by the deadly fumes at their large detached home on Rossmill Lane, Hale Barns.

Luckily the couple were woken by five year-old Natasha - and were horrified as one by one the children - Joel, who is nine tomorrow, Sam, six, Natasha, Ben, 18 months and Joel's pal Ryan, eight - collapsed after a suspected carbon monoxide leak on Sunday morning.

The couple did not have a clue what was wrong and feared it could be meningitis. They raised the alarm, calling the doctor, ambulance and Ryan's mum, Dawn Hool.

Dawn was the first to arrive and was stunned to find the children collapsed. The nursery school teacher did all she could to help until ambulances arrived.

They were taken to Wythenshawe Hospital and later transferred to Murrayfield Hospital on the Wirral for specialist treatment in a compression chamber to remove the carbon monoxide from their systems.

A relieved Sharon, 37, told SAM after they all returned home from hospital safe and well: "If we had been in the house for five or 10 minutes longer we may not have survived this. I feel we have been incredibly lucky. Thankfully, Natasha came into our room - otherwise we would not have woken up. I am sure Natasha saved us all.

"It was a frightening experience. I am normally a calm person but there is nothing worse than seeing your child lying on the floor screaming and vomiting."

Jeremy says: "Natasha jumped on our bed and woke us up as she normally does. But she was acting strangely and clutching her throat. I got up and saw Sam looking very ill. I picked him up and he started vomiting. Then I heard Ryan and Joel crash to the ground. Everyone was keeling over. Then Sharon was overcome and Ben was being sick.

"Sharon had phoned the doctor and ambulance and I had called Ryan's mum.

"Then I heard another bang and found Sharon unconscious on the floor.

"At one point I felt like lying down but I forced myself to keep going."

Ryan's mum Dawn says: "When I arrived I found a house full of unconscious little bodies. They were all twitching and it was like they were having epileptic fits."

The family praised Dawn's efforts to help them and all the emergency services and medical staff who treated them.

Sharon urged people to be aware of the dangers of carbon monoxide: "It is a deadly gas - you can't smell it or see it."

A British Gas spokesman says the incident is currently being investigated: "We would like to remind anyone who uses gas or solid fuel in their home that carbon monoxide is invisible and has no taste or smell.

"But tell tale signs are stains, soot or discolouring around the gas fire, water heater or water boiler; a yellow or orange flame rather than a blue flame and a strange smell when the appliance is on."

Nicola Brierley, of the carbon monoxide support group, says: "The family have had a very lucky escape.

"It is important to ensure all appliances are serviced and maintained regularly by Corgi registered engineers.

"There are electronic detectors on the market which give an audible alarm. We would advise people to get these and would like them to be installed in every home."

Symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning include headaches, nausea, tiredness, dizziness, muscle pain, flu symptoms, vomiting and diarrhoea.

Anyone who suspects they are being poisoned should ask their doctor for a blood test which can detect it.

The electronic detectors are available from DIY stores or the carbon monoxide support group on 01706 633760 or 0113 2605112.

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