Story originally printed in the Westby Times or online at www.westbytimes.com
Published - Friday, May 30, 2008
Visitors save Ontario men from carbon monoxide poisoning
Two Ontario men are in satisfactory condition at a Minneapolis, Minn., hospital after being found unresponsive due to carbon monoxide exposure, Wednesday afternoon.
Vernon County Sheriff’s Department Chief Deputy Jim Hanson said that Donald F. Malphy, 80, and Gareld L. Hanson, 76, were found on the floor of Malphy’s garage.
“They’re very lucky they were discovered,” Chief Deputy Hanson said.
Mark Smith, a member of Ontario’s EMS team, which responded to the residence, said Malphy and Gareld Hanson were found by a pair of men who wanted to ask Malphy a question. The men, who were not identified, called authorities. Smith said both Malphy and Gareld Hanson were unconscious when the Ontario EMS arrived.
Chief Deputy Hanson said that Malphy and Gareld Hanson had been in Malphy’s garage working on a tractor. They had the garage doors closed and were turning the tractor on and off as they worked on wiring and did other maintenance, Chief Deputy Hanson said.
“They must have just been overcome with the fumes,” Chief Deputy Hanson said. “The tractor was off when they were found, but the garage was sealed up tight.”
Chief Deputy Hanson said that a furnace was also on in the garage and it’s not known if a carbon monoxide leak from the furnace exists.
Monroe County Sheriff’s Department officers and Vernon County officers both responded to the scene.
The Ontario EMS and Wilton EMS transported the men to area hospitals and later they were both taken to the Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis, Minn. Officials at the medical center said both men were in satisfactory condition as of 11 a.m., Friday.
Assisting at the scene was the Ontario Police Department, Ontario Fire Department, Tri-State Ambulance and the Med-Link helicopter from Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center.
Chief Deputy Hanson said the investigation into the matter continues and Malphy has been asked to have a professional inspect the furnace in his garage to check for carbon monoxide leaks.
All stories copyright 2006 Westby Times and other attributed sources.