The Herald (Glasgow)
Copyright 2007 Newsquest Media Group
All rights reserved

GLASGOW, Scotland — A family was saved from carbon monoxide poisoning when their sick parrot warned them that deadly fumes were filling their home.

After noticing the bird had taken ill, the family - who are from Dalgety Bay, in Fife, and wish to remain anonymous - realised it was an early indication of carbon monoxide poisoning after becoming nauseous themselves.

An ambulance arrived as they were falling unconscious.

The incident happened on Saturday morning when the family-of-three woke up feeling unwell. Returning to their beds to try to sleep it off, the father, mother and daughter were unaware their lives were at risk. The father said: "We all woke up with splitting headaches so decided to go back to bed for a couple of hours."

It was later in the morning that his wife noticed their pet cockatoo, Georgie, had been sick. She said: "I thought he might have choked on a nut, so I made sure he'd brought everything up."

With their daughter in pain, the couple began to suspect they had a gas leak.

The husband said: "I looked at the parrot and he had his beak wide open as if he was struggling for air. That's when I thought 'I'm ill, my wife's ill and my daughter 's ill - it must be gas.' By this time my chest was so sore I thought I was having a heart attack. Luckily I was still able to grab the phone and call an ambulance."

As the paramedics arrived, he collapsed unconscious in the hall. After being treated in hospital, the family were well enough to return home.

"If it hadn't been for him we'd all be dead. He's a hero, we all owe our lives to him, " the father said.