A panic-stricken pregnant woman was trapped with her husband in the bedroom of their Telford home today as a mystery leak filled up their first-floor flat with deadly gas fumes.
The door lock snapped when Emma and Warren Gittings tried to get out of their home in Squirrel Meadow, Shawbirch.
Mrs Gittings, who is 18 weeks pregnant, began to shout for help through the window and neighbours tried to rescue the couple but their efforts were thwarted as the front door was bolted on the inside.
The ordeal ended for 28-year-old Mrs Gittings and her husband, aged 35, when firefighters arrived at 6.15am and smashed their way into the house and bedroom to free them.
The couple were given oxygen at the scene before being taken by ambulance to the Princess Royal Hospital for checks.
They were allowed home later and Mrs Gittings said her unborn baby appeared to be fine.
Mrs Gittings said that if it had not been for her husband waking up early to go to the bathroom they could have both died in their sleep.
She said: “When Warren got up I rolled over and noticed a strong smell of gas.
“We both went to check the kitchen and opened the windows and then went back into the bedroom to open the windows there but we pulled the door behind us and the lock broke.
“The smell of gas got stronger and stronger and we realised how dangerous the situation was.”
Sub officer Brian Poole of Wellington fire station said: “When we got there the couple were shouting for help out of the windows and there was a strong smell of gas.
“We isolated the gas supply, forced entry and went upstairs where one of the crew put his shoulder to the door to force it open.
“The woman was particularly shaken, being pregnant, and we gave them both oxygen before the ambulance arrived.”
Mr Gittings said gas board officials inspected the supply to the flat, and the cooker, but were unable to trace the source of the leak.
Mrs Gittings said: “I suppose we were only trapped for about 15 minutes but it seemed like an eternity.”
By Simon Hardy
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