A YOUNG couple has died from carbon monoxide poisoning caused by a gas heater, sparking warnings from health authorities about not leaving stoves on when retiring to bed.
María Jesús Lloret, 25 and Óscar López, 21 were staying overnight in a farmhouse just outside Sueca (Valencia province) on Friday and had left the heater on while they were asleep.
They were found by María Jesús's father, who said the stove was still on the next morning.
The country house, or casita, a farm building in the L'Heretat area used as a weekend and summer retreat, belonged to the young woman's parents.
Neither of the victims' families knew they had planned to spend the night in the farmhouse.
Post mortem examinations will be carried out on both the deceased, although authorities are not treating their deaths as suspicious.
A tragically common occurrence at this time of year, carbon monoxide poisoning through gas inhalation, normally arising through defective heaters, results in a slow but painless death.
This usually starts with feeling drowsy and sometimes headachey, and the victim then falls asleep and does not wake up.
All gas installations must be serviced every five years and any smells of gas – which can resemble the scent of pickled onions – should be immediately reported.
Carbon monoxide detectors can be purchased cheaply for homes and a light flashes red when there is a gas leak.
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A NEW child protection law named after a British musician living in Spain has been approved in Congress and is set to be signed off by the Council of Ministers on Tuesday, June 8.
