I accidentally POISONED my family with simple fish tank mistake – we could barely breathe

A DAD accidentally poisoned his family with a powerful toxin released by the corals in his aquarium.

Mike Nguyen was left fighting for breath along with his wife, four children and sister.

Mike Nguyen accidentally poisoned his family with a powerful toxin released by the corals in his aquarium

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Mike Nguyen accidentally poisoned his family with a powerful toxin released by the corals in his aquarium Credit: Louis WoodMike reduced the corals when his 500 liter tank started leaking

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Mike reduced the corals when his 500 liter tank started leaking Credit: AlamyMike's children struggle for breath in the ambulance

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Mike’s children struggle for breath in the ambulance Credit: Louis WoodEmergency teams in Dagenham, east London, also evacuated nearby homes

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Emergency teams also evacuated nearby homes in Dagenham, east LondonCredit: The Sun

He called for help after returning from work to find them barely responsive before he too began to feel seriously ill.

All seven members of the family were rushed to the hospital due to the consequences of palytoxin poisoning.

Emergency teams in Dagenham, east London, also evacuated nearby homes.

Mike, 42, unwittingly released the deadly poison when he reduced the coral in his £4,000 500-litre tank after the leak.

After draining some of the water into buckets, he then – on expert advice – trimmed the exposed coral to prevent the colony from drying out.

Takeaway worker Mike said: “I couldn’t believe what happened, it was surreal.

“I came home to my family in bad shape.

“It started when I noticed a leak, so I turned the pump off and called the maintenance man to come and assess.

“He came and I recognized that the leak was coming from the bracket.

“We took water from the cistern and put it in buckets.

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“Then there were many corals above the water.

“It was important that it did not dry out, because it can emit palytoxin.

“I’m told you have to take that coral down before it poisons the kids and stuff like that.

“I did it right away and chipped away at the rock with a hammer and chisel to get the coral under the water.

“I did it and my nose started running.

“I sneezed and coughed at the same time.

“I didn’t know it was poison.

“I sneezed and felt dizzy afterwards but, to be honest, I thought it was Covid.”

Mike later discovered that his wife Yen, four teenage children and sister Huyen were also suffering.

He said: “They all had high temperatures.

“Everyone was lying on the couches and sleeping.

“I could barely make it up the stairs, so I called the doctor.

“I was still sneezing and coughing, it was like serious symptoms of corona.”

Six members of the family were discharged from Queen’s Hospital in Romford the day after the August 10 scare.

Huyen was treated for another three days.

The London Ambulance Service said: “We have dispatched members of our emergency response team to the dangerous area.”

And the Met Police added: “Seven people were taken to hospital after being exposed to the chemical.”

DANGER FROM POISON

CORAL can release the poisonous gas palytoxin when it gets too hot or pieces break off.

Zoanthari, a sea creature found in reefs, release palytoxin when exposed to air.

Symptoms of palytoxin poisoning are flu-like and include cough, fever, chest tightness, muscle cramps, and skin rash.

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In extreme cases it can kill.

Mike said: 'I couldn't believe what happened, it was surreal. I returned home to my family in a bad state'

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Mike said: ‘I couldn’t believe what happened, it was surreal. I came home to my family in a bad way’Credit: Louis WoodSix members of the family were discharged from the hospital the day after the scare - Mike's son Cuong photo

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Six members of the family were discharged from hospital the day after the scare – Mike’s son Cuong photo Credit: Louis WoodMike and daughter Selena at Queen's Hospital in Romford

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Mike and daughter Selena at Queen’s Hospital in Romford Credit: Louis Wood

Categories: Optical Illusion
Source: HIS Education

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