28 November 2006
Consumers are being warned to check that they have adequate heating insurance following a spate of domestic accidents caused by faulty boilers.
In the past week alone, two tragic stories have come to light where a faulty boiler has caused misery for families, in one case a gas engineer was actually on the scene when the accident happened.
The Thompson family, mum Margaret, dad Harry and nine children, are facing a Christmas at a hotel after a gas explosion left them homeless.
Two of the children have suffered serious injuries, Mrs Thompson told the Daily Record: "I'm hoping Mardi and Eilidh will be allowed home in time for Christmas...They both need pins in their legs and more operations."
Mr Thompson had spotted what he thought was a leaking gas canister and sent for an engineer. The explosion occurred when the engineer arrived and they still have no explanation for what caused it.
In another tragic story, a baby girl from Bristol was left fighting for her life after hot water pipes exploded above her bed, covering the nine-month-old in boiling water.
Baby Rhianna's gran Kathleen McKenzie, 47, told the Sun: "The ceiling fell down on her cot and she was covered in water."
Taunton Deane council added that the situation was "tragic". "Our thoughts are with the family. We are awaiting the conclusions of investigations," said a spokesman.
All boilers and heating systems should be serviced regularly by Corgi registered engineers in order to prevent a repeat of either of these awful disasters.
© 2008 Adfero Ltd
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