Three people die after falling into septic tank

ST-JEAN-BAPTISTE-DE-ROUVILLE, Que. (CP) - Campers yelled for help and tried in vain, but failed to save three people who fell into a septic tank at a campground early Saturday.

The 56-year-old owner of the Lac du Repos campground, east of Montreal, went down a hole with his son-in-law and another camper around midnight to clear a blocked drain near the tank, said Quebec provincial police.

The men were overcome by fumes in the septic tank and fell unconscious.

A fourth man was also overpowered by the fumes and fell from a ladder after climbing down the four-metre hole to rescue them. He was taken to hospital and was in critical condition.

Eight people who tried to help until rescue workers arrived were also treated for exposure to the toxic fumes and released from hospital.

The three men died in hospital after eventually being pulled out by the rescue workers.

Autopsies will be done this week.

"We're going to find out if they died just because of the fumes or if they died because they drowned in the (human waste)," said police spokesman Const. Ronald Mc Innis.

There was panic at the campground, one camper told all-news channel, LCN.

"Everyone was yelling 'Help,' " a woman said. "I woke up and went to look at what was in the hole. They were dead."

Two firemen were also treated in hospital for exposure to the fumes.

The police did not release the victims' names.

Mc Innis said such accidents are not common in Quebec.

He reminded people that only professionals should fix septic tanks.

"For everybody who owns a septic tank that needs repairs, they should always give the job to a professional." Mc Innis said. "They know exactly how to do it."

St-Jean-Baptiste-de-Rouville is about 30 kilometres east of Montreal.

What a crappy way to go!

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That story STINKS..............Sounds like someone will find a way to SUE the Gov. Those French Cannucks are dependent on thier Gov. to do every thing for them anyway...Why not Have your Septic cleaned at the Gov,s expense......After all....Is it not the way that( we) are heading? The far Left wants to do every thing for everybody .(Just vote for us ! ) Not in This country .! We few moderates...that are left can make a diff. Vote for any one that will let you live with LESS TAXES LESS GOvt. and More FREEDOMES......THE RUSSIANS TRIED the 'Left way " for approx 72 years IT DID NOT WORK .......AND IT WON,T WORK Here either................IT,s Called Socialism Communisum..TAKE YOUR CHOICE Democrats..Clinton said many things to bring the Moderates and the Undecided into his camp and Never delivered. SORRY FOLKS NOT THIS TIME!!!!!!!!!!! Is Kerry the best you Have to Offer??????????????????????????????

Let's see -- some people die in a septic tank accident in Canada, and it eventually comes around to being John Kerry's fault?

Man ... the tentacles of Kerry's evil influence are far reaching!

Or -- maybe this is just an inspired illustration of the beef that "everything turns into a political debate around here" -- like many were complaining in the adjoining thread.

-- Bokonon

Hmmmmm -- something smells here, but I don't think it's from the septic tank......

Why would anyone go into a septic tank?! Now that would be a smell to remember

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I've met a few French Canadians. They went down in that hole cause it smelled better then they did. And you'd think the septic system would have extended them a little a little professional courtesy.