Boat accident in Bamble leaves family with carbon monoxide poisoning

A family of four from Grenland in Telemark suffered serious injuries after inhaling carbon monoxide during a boat trip on Wednesday evening, Dagbladet reports.

The father, who was steering the boat, said he suddenly became drowsy before losing consciousness. His 12-year-old son managed to alert police while the boat drifted uncontrolled.

“I remember I got very sleepy. Then I was completely out,” the father told Dagbladet. “What was scary was that I didn’t get any proper warning. It happened very suddenly.”

Both the father and his father-in-law passed out. The mother-in-law and the 12-year-old son remained conscious but were terrified. The boy still managed to call the police and provide their approximate location, prompting a large rescue operation near Skjerkøya in Bamble.

“It was absolutely my son who saved the day,” the father said.

Emergency responders reported a strong smell of gasoline when they located the boat. The father said he needed two people to support him when he was helped ashore, as he could not stand on his own.

All four family members were taken by ambulance to a hospital in Oslo. The father discovered his nose was blackened by soot when he arrived. The entire family was treated for carbon monoxide poisoning in a hyperbaric chamber.

The father, father-in-law, and mother-in-law were discharged the next day, while the son was kept overnight for observation and released on Friday.

The family considers themselves lucky and has since purchased a carbon monoxide detector for their boat. The father noted that the detector already registers elevated levels when the boat’s cabin is closed. Authorities believe exhaust fumes may have entered the cabin from the rear due to speed and wind direction, as the cabin only has an opening at the back.

Police have classified the incident as an accident and will not pursue further investigation. “The case has been sent with a recommendation for dismissal, as no criminal offense has been committed,” investigation leader Annie Sandersen told Dagbladet.