Poisoning tragedy survivor remains seriously ill

Hamilton man Jason Basson remained seriously ill in an Auckland hospital this morning after a carbon monoxide poisoning at a motor camp near Raglan that left two men dead.

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Mr Basson, 32, is the sole survivor from the accident at the Ruapuke motor camp, which claimed the lives of his two companions.

The men died after inhaling fumes from a charcoal barbecue they brought inside to heat the tiny cabin.

The victims' names will not be released until relatives in South Africa are informed of the deaths.

But Huntly policeman Sergeant Brent Wallace this morning told the Waikato Times one man was a 35-year-old store manager from Howick, Auckland.

The other victim was a 50-year-old purchaser, from Hamilton.

All three men were originally from South Africa.

Mr Basson had fallen in and out of consciousness as he dragged himself along the floor of the cabin in a desperate attempt to get help for his two mates.

He was airlifted to Waikato Hospital, before later being transferred to Devonport naval base in Auckland for hyperbaric treatment.

He was this morning recovering in North Shore Hospital's high dependency unit, where he was likely to remain for some time, a spokeswoman said.

The three men were in a group of five from Hamilton and Auckland who had travelled to the secluded Ruapuke Camping Ground, about 20km southwest of Raglan, for a weekend of fishing and relaxation, while their wives were attending a baby shower for the injured man's wife in Hamilton.

However, it all turned tragically wrong overnight Saturday after a charcoal-burning portable barbecue was turned on to help them keep warm.

Camp ground manager Ben Walker said the group arrived on Saturday and had hired two cabins, with a father and son sharing a neighbouring site.

About 8am yesterday, the teenage son approached Mr Walker for help after he was unable to rouse the trio, who were late for their scheduled 5am fishing trip to the popular Papanui Rock, about 2km up the road.

"He wanted to get in that cabin to get his food."

He realised once he got to the cabin that something was wrong.

Mr Walker said he spoke with the injured man through the door. Mr Basson told him he couldn't move and to call an ambulance.

"I said 'wake the others up', but he said they won't wake up."

It was then he realised the barbecue was probably inside the cabin.

Mr Walker drilled a hole through a window latch to gain access.

Once inside the two men were found dead in their beds with Mr Basson lying on the floor against the door.

"I did hear him say he had passed out and come around again. There's a bit of wind that passes through these cabins, so maybe that little crack under the door was enough to keep him alive."

Mr Walker said he hardly recognised the Hamilton man whose complexion was white and swollen.

He he knew the men reasonably well as they had stayed at the camping ground at various times in the past.

"They're just happy go lucky kinda guys."

However, he was baffled as to why they would use the barbecue as a heater.

"I don't know why they took it in. It's too small to take anything like that inside."

The camp ground is a popular spot for families over the summer period who are keen to escape, he said.

Yesterday, campers on site were lying low, including a young family in a campervan, and were kept inside the cordon until interviewed by police.

Sergeant Wallace said there was no indication that the men's deaths were suspicious, more they died as a result of a tragic oversight.

- © Fairfax NZ News