About 200 people were hospitalized last night after carbon monoxide poisoning at a London Christmas party, one health service employee claimed.
A hospital worker has come forward about a ‘major incident’ alleged to have occurred last night following an event at a Gokyuzu restaurant in Chingford, Waltham Forest.
Numerous people who attended the Christmas party allegedly got sick and initially thought they had food poisoning.
But it is alleged that they actually experienced symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning due to a leak in the restaurant.
Countless people attending Gokyuzu’s Christmas party (pictured) are said to have fallen ill and initially thought they had food poisoning
The employee, who asked to remain anonymous, claimed: ‘People were just eating in the restaurant and then everyone just started getting sick – they all thought they had food poisoning.
“They called 911 and they forwarded them to our hospital and because there were 200 people. They had to split them up and send them to different hospitals in London.
“But all the patients who signed up — we had about 40 patients — all had high levels of carbon monoxide in their bodies, and they all came from the same Christmas.”
Symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning include nausea, lightheadedness, headache, shortness of breath and dizziness.
University College Hospital, Whittington Hospital and Royal Free Hospital would be the locations where patients were referred.
The source claimed that the Christmas party attendees arrived at their hospital at around 8pm 11 p.m. on Wednesday and continued to appear until 4 a.m.
A Twitter user also claimed that her mother had been to the Christmas party in Chingford, saying: ‘My mother went for a Christmas dinner at work in Gokyuzu and they’ve had some kind of carbon monoxide leak, which has affected them. 30 people and now I’m in the ER with my mother showing signs of palpitations, faintness, confusion and dizziness.
University College Hospital, Whittington Hospital (pictured) and Royal Free Hospital were said to be the locations where patients were referred
“I found extremely high levels of carbon monoxide in her blood from exposure at this restaurant. Thank goodness she’s fine—it could have gone very wrong.”
The alleged incident came just a day later 10,000 medics left hospitals by England and Wales for the second time in a week over a pay dispute.
The pressure on the NHS has been so high that patients have even been told to wonder’am I dying?’ before contacting the emergency services.
The alleged incident came just a day after 10,000 medics left hospitals in England and Wales for the second time in a week over a pay dispute
The NHS worker continued: ‘We started running out of oxygen cylinders.
“Imagine that 40 patients suddenly show up and you have to find space because they all need oxygen.”
A restaurant employee confirmed they were aware of the carbon monoxide incident, but Gokyuzu declined to comment.
The Turkish restaurant is still accepting bookings on its website.
The UK Health Security Agency has confirmed that despite the initial leak, there is ‘no lasting risk to public health’.
Dr. Anita Bell, health protection consultant at UKHSA London said:
“We have issued public health advice to Waltham Forest Council following a carbon monoxide leak at a restaurant in Chingford. The leak has been closed and there is no lasting risk to public health.
“Symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning include headache, dizziness, nausea, feeling weak, chest pain and shortness of breath. When people are removed from the source of carbon monoxide exposure, their health usually improves and symptoms ease, but if you think you have been exposed to carbon monoxide and are feeling unwell or concerned, call NHS 111.”
A spokesman for Waltham Forest council said: ‘A recent incident at Gokyuzu’s Southend Road branch is currently under investigation by environmental health officials.
“A suspected gas appliance has been decommissioned and the municipality has taken formal measures to prohibit its use in the future.”
NS has also been approached for comment.