Members of the public were left with dizziness and sharp pains from a ‘strong odour’ in a popular beauty spot, which is still under investigation as people were said to ‘fall ill’ due to the smell
A “strong odour” currently being investigated at a popular beauty spot has left people feeling ill.
The smell was noticed by walkers at Fendrod Lake in Swansea on Saturday, December 28. The foul stench has since seen a spike in reports of dizziness, sore throats, sharp pain and headaches from those who visited the area. An investigation into the area is now underway after the series of sickness reports.
Those walking in the area have since revealed the smell is similar to a “paint thinner,” with one unnamed hiker who wished to remain anonymous likening it to a solvent-like smell.
The walker went on to say the strongest smell came from near the lock bridge. She said: “People were lightheaded, dizzy, and had sore throats. It smelt like paint thinners. It was in a specific area around the little bridge. Some people were saying they could see a slick in the water. The fire brigade were very quick to respond.”
Firefighters referred the incident to Natural Resources Wales (NRW). A spokesman for the Natural Resources Wales has since confirmed reports were investigated by staff, who are still trying to figure out the source of the odour. Ioan Williams, operations manager for NRW, said on Sunday: “We received reports of a strong odour at Fendrod Lake, Swansea on Saturday evening and sent officers to investigate. Staff have returned to site this morning to determine the source of the odour.”
Other odours smelled at home are a sign of real danger, The Mirror previously reported. A boiler expert is now warning about potentially lethal smells that could emanate from your heating system. He emphasised the importance of being aware of dangerous odours that could come from your boiler, such as the smell of rotten eggs, burning or metallic-like scents.
Recognising these smells allows for swift action, which might involve calling a professional or immediately evacuating your property. Joshua Houston, a boiler specialist at GreenMatch, has provided more details below about why it’s crucial to be alert if you detect any of these odours. A metallic odour could signify the same issues as a rotten egg smell. The appropriate steps should be taken as a gas leak can be extremely hazardous.
Alternatively, it could be due to an oil leak from your boiler. It’s important not to attempt fixing the problem yourself but instead, call a professional who can safely rectify the issue. Joshua emphasised: ”It’s crucial that the public is aware of these three smells related to boilers. As otherwise they could be in serious danger without their knowledge.
“Calling a professional or evacuating a home can save lives. On average, 40 people die a year in the UK from deaths relating to boilers. So, smells that you might think are innocent, really need to be taken seriously.”