Haven holiday park: Family rushed to hospital after 'carbon monoxide leak' in caravan at Doniford Bay

Vicki Wallace and her husband Rob had taken their 14-year-old son and another relative to Doniford Bay Holiday Park in Minehead, Somerset, in October. But on the night of their arrival, the 41-year-old heard an alarm going off in the kitchen while she was in bed.

She said they were 'frightened' when they discovered it was the carbon monoxide alarm, and tried to call security - but claim they did not answer. The family began to worry further when three of them started felling unwell.

Vicki's son, J, had been complaining of having a headache while Vicki had been suffering unusual chest pains. The NHS admin worker claims it was not until 20 minutes after the alarm had gone off that a security staff member came and reportedly asked them to turn it off.

Vicki refused to stay in the caravan and the family was moved to a different property. But they said their chest pains and headaches continued. After googling their symptoms, the mum-of-two suspected that they could have carbon monoxide poisoning.

Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service attended and confirmed that they used a gas monitor to investigate the property, stating that readings "indicated a suspected low level carbon monoxide leak". Firefighters used fans to ventilate the caravan until the readings 'returned to normal' but Vicki claims fire crew and paramedics advised the family they needed to be rushed to hospital.

Ambulances transferred the group to Musgrove Park Hospital, where Vicki said they immediately had blood tests and were all given oxygen. They were treated for nine hours.

When the family got back from the hospital, Vicki says Haven denied that there had been any carbon monoxide leak and when she asked to see the fire service report, she claims she was refused and told it was 'belonged to Haven'. After being contacted by journalists, Haven said there had been 'very low-level readings' of carbon monoxide but claimed it was 'not classified as a health risk'.

A spokesperson from Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service said: "On arrival, one adult and two children had already evacuated and were feeling unwell. A smell of gas was confirmed as coming from the caravan.

“Crews used breathing apparatus, thermal imaging, and a gas monitor to investigate the property, and readings indicated a suspected low level carbon monoxide leak. Crews isolated and disconnected gas cylinders connected to the property and used a battery-operated fan to help ventilate the caravan and return readings to normal. Casualties were left in the hands of ambulance services."

A Haven spokesperson said: "The health and safety of our guests is our number one priority. Following the reported incident, an investigation was conducted by both the fire brigade and a third-party specialist, who advised that no further action was necessary."