Posted on 08/31/2004 2:51:30 PM PDT by billorites
ST-JEAN-BAPTISTE-DE-ROUVILLE, Que. (CP) - Campers yelled for help and tried in vain, but failed to save three people who fell into a septic tank at a campground early Saturday.
The 56-year-old owner of the Lac du Repos campground, east of Montreal, went down a hole with his son-in-law and another camper around midnight to clear a blocked drain near the tank, said Quebec provincial police.
The men were overcome by fumes in the septic tank and fell unconscious.
A fourth man was also overpowered by the fumes and fell from a ladder after climbing down the four-metre hole to rescue them. He was taken to hospital and was in critical condition.
Eight people who tried to help until rescue workers arrived were also treated for exposure to the toxic fumes and released from hospital.
The three men died in hospital after eventually being pulled out by the rescue workers.
Autopsies will be done this week.
"We're going to find out if they died just because of the fumes or if they died because they drowned in the (human waste)," said police spokesman Const. Ronald Mc Innis.
There was panic at the campground, one camper told all-news channel, LCN.
"Everyone was yelling 'Help,' " a woman said. "I woke up and went to look at what was in the hole. They were dead."
Two firemen were also treated in hospital for exposure to the fumes.
The police did not release the victims' names.
Mc Innis said such accidents are not common in Quebec.
He reminded people that only professionals should fix septic tanks.
"For everybody who owns a septic tank that needs repairs, they should always give the job to a professional." Mc Innis said. "They know exactly how to do it."
St-Jean-Baptiste-de-Rouville is about 30 kilometres east of Montreal.
What a crappy way to die.
s... happens.
The ammonia from decaying fecal material has killed many farm workers over the years - even in more exposed areas than a pit. The fumes in a pit would be lethal for sure.
This stinks
They're screwed King.
PU... pea-you,
I say peeuu..
Michael Moore stayed at the park recently.......
Fortunately in my line of work confined space entry is taken very seriously. Too bad these people were not educated on the dangers. Hardly a topic for ridicule.
Was the Dave Matthews Band tour bus anywhere near the area?
Not ammonia, Hydrogen Sulfide, H2S. Bad stuff.
Mon dieu. Whatta way to go.
If they were of French desent, maybe they thought the smell was simply another Frenchman who had not bathed for a month of forevers?
The host actually puked.
A fourth man was also overpowered by the fumes ...
Eight people who tried to help until rescue workers arrived were also treated for exposure to the toxic fumes ...
"We're going to find out if they died just because of the fumes ...
Two firemen were also treated in hospital for exposure to the fumes...
Holy Moly! What are those Canuck Frogs eating, Saddam's poison gas stockpiles?
Since I know there will be a lot of other kinds of responses here, I'll give mine --- pray for their souls and loved ones.
If the contractor who built the septic tank did not do a good job, the wrongful death lawsuits could mean that he's going to be in deep sh*t.
This reminds me....several months ago, we had our septic tank pumped. Me and one of my kids were watching. The man in charge told us to BE CAREFUL and please back up just a little because even people standing over the open tank can be overcome.
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