A CARBON monoxide campaigner has hit out at misleading fatality figures.

A report compiled by the Gas Safety Trust claimed deaths from carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning had tripled in the last year.

The Trust said there were 25 fatalities and 80 injuries for the 12 months to June 30, compared to just seven deaths the year before.

But the Trust’s “Hotspot Report” was itself compiled from media reports not official figures from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).

The Trust said high number of fatalities could be explained by the occurrence of several serious incidents in the past 12 months.

Northern Ireland suffered particularly badly, with five deaths in two incidents.

HSE figures for 2009/10 are not published until November but data for the previous five years shows fatalities from CO poisoning have actually dropped.

In 2009/10 there were nine deaths, down from 15 in 2008/09 and 13 the previous year.

The official figures do, however, show a steady rise in CO poisoning incidents, from 119 in 2006/07 to 196 in 2009/10.

Huddersfield campaigner Stacey Rodgers, whose 10-year-old son Dominic died from carbon monoxide poisoning from a neighbour’s faulty boiler at the family home in Spaines Road, Fartown, in February 2004, said she was upset by the report.

Stacey, who launched the Dominic Rodgers Trust to campaign for better awareness of CO deaths, said her understanding was that fatalities were dropping.

“Awareness is getting out more,’’ she said. “This past year it’s mainly been deaths to do with camping and barbecues.

“I’m a bit upset by this as I thought things were getting better. I thought figures were going down, not up.”

Mrs Rodgers said while media coverage of the dangers of CO poisoning was helpful, people were still complacent about it.

She said she thought householders should be able to get free CO detectors, much like the free smoke detectors offered by fire stations across West Yorkshire.

“It’s the silent killer,’’ she added. “You can smell a fire but when it comes to carbon monoxide it’s the ghost in your room.”

The Gas Safety Trust’s report was completed on June 30, just a week before the tragic death of Slaithwaite police forensics officer Hazel Woodhams.

Mrs Woodhams, 30, and her boyfriend Roland Wessling were overcome by fumes from a charcoal barbecue while camping in Great Yarmouth.

A HSE spokesman said their data was not comparable to the Gas Safety Trust’s as the executive did not cover Northern Ireland and only recorded incidents from gas appliances and not ones triggered by the burning of solid fuels and oil.

He added: “Carbon monoxide is a colourless, odourless, tasteless, poisonous gas produced by incomplete burning of carbon-based fuels, including gas, oil, wood, petrol and coal.

“Most of the CO poisoning incidents that occur are caused by gas appliances that have been incorrectly installed, are badly repaired or poorly maintained.

“Incidents can also occur where flues or chimneys are blocked or damaged or there is poor ventilation. There are a number of simple steps that gas consumers can take to keep themselves safe – most importantly ensuring that appliances are installed, serviced and maintained regularly by a Gas Safe registered engineer.”