Skiers call in law firm over carbon monoxide poisoning

A British family has instructed personal injury lawyers to investigate after they suffered carbon monoxide poisoning during a Christmas ski break in France.

The nine family members were given oxygen and taken to hospital after emergency services were called to their chalet in the French Alps.

Three children, aged three, two and 21 months, were among the party who stayed at the Chalet Hellebore in the resort of La Plagne Soleil.

The family comprised Bryan and Lorna Elliott, from Wiltshire, their sons and daughters-in-law and their grandchildren:  Paul, who turned 38 during the trip, his wife, Kerri, 34, and their children, Harry, six, and Charlie, two, as well as Alexander, 36, his wife Poppy, 33, and their son, Lachlan, 21 months.

The family departed for the seven-night ski holiday on December 23 last year and spent their last day on the slopes on December 29 before returning to their chalet.

The family reported that, around 12.30am, Harry became violently sick and Kerri collapsed whilst attempting to attend to him. Paul almost passed out but was able to raise the alarm.

Fire crews treated all nine at the scene with oxygen before ambulances and paramedics arrived with more oxygen and transported everyone to various hospitals.

The family members say they are still suffering ongoing symptoms, including sickness and memory loss, and it is not yet known whether they will suffer long-term effects.

Jennifer Lund, partner at Irwin Mitchell, which is investigating the incident, said: "Bryan, Lorna and the rest of the family were exposed to carbon monoxide in their holiday accommodation which could have had fatal consequences, as it has in previous tragedies elsewhere.

"Our clients required emergency treatment in hospital and we are investigating the long term effects of their exposure.

"Holiday companies have a responsibility to ensure that customers are kept safe from potential risks to their health and safety. The family are quite rightly upset that a special family skiing trip ended up with six adults and three children receiving treatment in hospital.

"It is widely known that exposure to carbon monoxide can have terrible and sometimes tragic consequences. Our investigations are at an early stage, however, it is vital that steps are taken to avoid a repeat of this incident."

The holiday was provided by Skiworld, which said: "Skiworld has been providing chalet holidays for over 30 years and this is the first incident of its kind.

"We put the health and safety of our guests at the very centre of our operations. Our thoughts are naturally with the Elliott family for the distress and upset experienced, and we are very sorry that they have suffered as a result of this incident.

"At the time our staff were immediately on site and did all they could to assist. Snow conditions in the Alps have been unprecedented and described as a ‘once in a 30-year event’ and it was a build-up of a very considerable amount of snow that blocked an air intake flue that we understand caused the incident.

"As this case is subject to legal action we are not in a position to comment further. "