- Three generations of the Elliott family, from Wiltshire, are now suing their holiday company, claiming they could have been gassed and killed in their beds
- All nine had emergency oxygen and rushed to hospital but miraculously survived
- They are still suffering ongoing side effects, including sickness and memory loss
- Skiworld told them it was due to too much snow at La Plagne Soleil resort
By Anthony Joseph for MailOnline
Published: 12:50 GMT, 1 February 2018 | Updated: 12:50 GMT, 1 February 2018
A British family of nine, who were poisoned by carbon monoxide gas on a five-star French ski resort, have been told that too much snow was to blame.
Three generations of the Elliott family, from Wiltshire, are now suing their holiday company, claiming they could have been gassed and killed in their beds at a luxury chalet in the French Alps resort of La Plagne Soleil.
All nine were given emergency oxygen and rushed to hospital but miraculously they survived.
They are still suffering ongoing side effects, including sickness and memory loss.
And now they have been stunned to be told by Skiworld, who provided the holiday, that the cause was due to a 'snow-blocked air intake flue' following an increase in snowfall in the Alps.
Bryan Elliott, 59, and his wife Lorna, 58, from Pewsham, near Chippenham, were joined by their son Paul, who celebrated his 38th birthday during the trip, their daughter-in-law Kerri, 34, and their children Harry, six, and Charlie, two, who all live in Malmesbury.
Staying at the Chalet Hellebore (pictured) in the five-star French Alps resort of La Plagne Soleil, they had left England for the seven night ski holiday near the city of Albertville in south-east France, on December 23, last year
Also in the party was their other son Alexander, 36, his wife Poppy, 33, and their son Lachlan, 21 months, from Colliers Wood, London.
Staying at the Chalet Hellebore in the five-star French Alps resort of La Plagne Soleil, they had left England for the seven night ski holiday near the city of Albertville in south-east France, on December 23, last year.
The family had enjoyed a day on the slopes on December 29 – the last day of their holiday – before they returned to their chalet.
Very early the next morning, around 12.30am, Harry became violently sick and Kerri collapsed whilst attempting to attend to him. Paul had almost passed out but fortunately was able to rouse himself enough to be able raise the alarm.
Fire crews treated all nine at the scene with oxygen before the ambulances and paramedics arrived with more oxygen and transported everyone to various hospitals across France.
All of the family returned to the UK following treatment. However, they are still suffering on-going symptoms, including sickness and memory loss, and it is not yet known whether they will suffer long-term effects.
'We took our grandchildren on a holiday of a lifetime and it got totally trashed' said angry engineer Mr Elliott, who is still suffering from memory loss and headaches.
'On the last day of the holiday at about 12.30am, my grandson had been sick and his mother passed out while trying to attend to him. Luckily Paul caught her and managed to raise the alarm.
'I was awake at the time but my wife was in the bathroom suffering with chest pains. It was quite disorientating and the whole thing was very traumatic.
'What should have been a family holiday of a lifetime ended being a nightmare. My lasting memory is being blue-lighted in an ambulance to hospital connected to an oxygen bottle.
'As a family, we now want answers. The first thing I do now when I go anywhere is to check the detectors are working. This was the third time we had been to this resort, but we certainly won't be going back again.
'Everyone was so excited ahead of the trip and were having a great time but that suddenly changed without any warning.
'To see people dropping like flies was truly terrifying. I'm just so grateful that Paul managed to raise the alarm because I dread to think what the consequences may have been.
'The doctors have said it's too early to say if anyone will have any long-term effects. At the minute I'm thankful that everyone got out of the chalet alive.
'It seemed like an age until the fire service arrived but I'm so thankful for everything they did. I feel that without their help things could have been a lot worse.
'When they came into the chalet in their breathing apparatus their carbon monoxide meter was going crazy.
'I asked one of the firefighters how high the reading was. He showed me the meter which was reading 300ppm. He immediately pointed to the door for everyone to get out.
'Surely procedures should be in place to check boiler flue inlet/outlets in a snow resort at 2,000 metres.
'Why were there no carbon monoxide detectors? We just hope that no other families have to go through an experience like this.'
The family has instructed international personal injury lawyers at Irwin Mitchell to bring a case for compensation against the travel firm. responsible for setting up their holiday in the chalet, which opened around a year ago.
Skiworld said 'The cause of the build-up of carbon monoxide within the chalet was a snow-blocked air intake flue. It is the case that considerable snowfall had been experienced in the resort; conditions so far this season have been described as a 'once in thirty-year' event.
'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.
'At the time our staff were immediately on site and did all they could to assist. As this case is subject to legal action we are not in a position to comment further.'
Irwin Mitchell partner Jennifer Lund 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.'
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