Boat owner poisoned by fumes from his vessel

A BOAT owner was “overcome” by carbon monoxide and collapsed and died on his motor cruiser at Cardiff Yacht Club.

A Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) report found 72-year-old retired truck driver Ray Milton died after being poisoned on his 7.75m vessel Vasquez last November.

The report said Mr Milton had travelled to Cardiff Yacht Club to check on his boat, which was moored in the marina, on November 12 last year.

Mr Milton, who had owned motorboats throughout his life and had been a member at Cardiff Yacht Club for about 20 years, did not arrive in the clubhouse as expected and a friend called a fellow club member asking him to investigate.

The pair found Mr Milton in a pool of water in the cabin, with his feet stretched as if he had fallen forward.

The firefighter, who is not named, turned off the engine ignition before the alarm was raised and the firefighter began CPR on Mr Milton.

After 10 to 15 minutes, the report said, the firefighter felt dizzy and developed a headache. The other club member noticed the colour draining from his face and asked him if he was OK. He replied that he was fine and then continued with CPR.

However the firefighter’s condition worsened and he had to be helped out of the boat by the small crowd that had gathered on the pontoon.

Mr Milton was taken to hospital but did not recover consciousness and was declared dead.

A post-mortem examination found the cause of death was carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning.

The firefighter and the other club member who had administered CPR were given oxygen and then taken to hospital for further tests and treatment.

Carbon monoxide is a highly poisonous gas which cannot be seen, smelled, tasted or felt.

Potential sources include propulsion engines, generators, paraffin and oil lamps, log burners and barbecues.

According to the accident report Mr Milton’s boat engine’s exhaust system was leaking the odourless gas into the cockpit and cabin area of his boat.

It said: “Over a period of time, with little ventilation to disperse the gas, a sufficient concentration of CO built up, such that he was overcome by the gas and collapsed in the cabin.”