Woman dies after suspected Cookstown "gas leak"

By Adam Evans

A woman believed to be in her sixties has died after a suspected gas leak in Cookstown.

Ambulance crews and a Hazardous Area Response Paramedic were called to a property on the Drum Road just before 7am.

A spokesperson for the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service told Q Radio: 

"NIAS received a 999 call at 06:46 on Tuesday 14 August 2018 following reports of a suspected gas leak at a property on Drum Road, Cookstown.

"NIAS dispatched four Emergency Ambulance crews and one Hazardous Area Response Paramedic to the incident.

"Following assessment and treatment at the scene, three patients were transported to Craigavon Area Hospital."

A spokesperson for the South Health Trust said one patient has been discharged and one remains in a stable condition.

A Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service (NIFRS) Spokesperson said: "The thoughts and sympathy of NIFRS are with the family of the lady who died following a carbon monoxide incident at a house in the Drum Road, Cookstown this morning.

"NIFRS received a call at 6.59am from the NI Ambulance Service to attend a carbon monoxide incident.  Ambulance personnel were already at the scene and were treating two casualties, a man and woman, who were then transferred to Craigavon Area Hospital.

"Firefighters using gas monitors took gas readings from inside the property which found significant levels of carbon monoxide and ventilated the property.  Gas readings were also taken from adjacent houses and two properties were evacuated for a short time as a precaution. 

"For safety advice with regard carbon monoxide visit www.hseni.gov.uk/watchout or call 0800 0320 121."