Six workers hospitalised after inhaling toxic fumes

Doctors are examining six workers, four Maltese men and two Egyptians, after inhaling carbon dioxide fumes while working in a closed area on a freighter.

The accident happened at 11:10am when the men, aged 56 from Brikirkara, 43 and 23 from Fgura, 38 from Hamrun, and two Egyptians aged 38 and 37 years and resident in Malta, were working in the hull of the ship “Xmun”, currently being serviced at the Manoel Island Yacht Yard.

When the men realised that they were in trouble as the carbon dioxide started leaking from the cylinders, they clambered onto deck, but one of the men jumped off the ship and suffered slight injuries.

Three ambulances were on the spot after the alarm was raise, together with a unit from Civil Protection's Hazmat division. Both District Police and units from the Rapid Intervention Unit were also on site.  

All six workers were examined on the spot by the medical teams of nurses and emergency department head Dr Jonathan Joslin before they were all taken to Mater Dei Hospital where they are still being treated. So far none of the workers was said to be in danger of dying.

The District Police are investigating the accident.