Mother Warns Of Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Risks After Son's Death

As people across the state gear up for a busy weekend on the water, a Broken Arrow mother who lost her son last year is speaking up about the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning on boats.

Cassi Free said her son Andy was a strong swimmer and loved the water, but at only 9 years old, she said carbon monoxide killed him after a day on the lake. Cassi Free said her nine-year-old son Andrew was curious, loving, and always trying something new.

"He was the smartest, most adventurous young man there was," Free said.

She said Andy and her two other kids practically grew up on boats and loved everything about being at the lake. Last June, they spent the day at Lake Eufaula.

"We spent several hours on the water, and when we came in everything seemed normal," she said.

But shortly after, Cassi said she noticed Andy was curled up near the back of the boat.

"In just a couple minutes' time, Andy went unconscious," she said.

Doctors think Andy was already gone by the time he rolled into the water. Cassi later discovered he had carbon monoxide levels at 72 percent. 30 percent is considered lethal.

She said her other two kids also got carbon monoxide poisoning after feeling disoriented and dizzy, but after being treated they were okay.

"Most people do not realize that on an inboard boat, there is a huge risk," she said.

According to the US Coast Guard, Carbon Monoxide can be created on boats while they're idling, if they're too close to other boats, or from back drafting where the exhaust goes back into a boat.

The CDC said there were more than 800 boating-related carbon monoxide poisonings from 2000 to 2014. The CDC said to stay away from the back of the boat, take breaks, don't park close to other boats, and be aware of symptoms like headaches, dizziness, confusion, and nausea.

"Carbon monoxide doesn't discriminate," Free said. "It doesn't matter how much experience you have on the lake."

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