FOUR ELDERLY women had a lucky escape last night after they were found semi-conscious in a house where a gas leak had occurred unknown to them.
Five women in all were treated in hospital following the incident which happened at around 6.30pm at the house at Railway Road in the west Clare town of Kilkee.
The five local women, who are understood to meet every week, had been enjoying tea in the house when one complained of feeling unwell and went home.
On arrival at her own house, the woman’s husband became concerned about her and, suspicious about what might have happened, went to the nearby house.
At the house the man discovered the woman’s four friends in different states of consciousness and quickly raised the alarm. The man called the emergency services, reporting that he could smell gas in the area.
He helped the women from the building and remained with them until emergency crews arrived.
Ambulances from Kilrush and Ennis, a rapid response advanced paramedic unit from Ennis and a local doctor rushed to the scene.
Gardaí cordoned off the area while fire crews wearing specialist breathing apparatus searched the house for the source of the leak.
Fire crews established that the gas was leaking from a bulk tank at the rear of the house.
Medics treated the women at the scene before they were taken by ambulance to Ennis General Hospital for treatment.
It is not thought that any of the women are seriously ill but they were being assessed last night.
Fire crews remained at the scene for several hours until technicians made the gas tank safe.