Two days after suffering from severe carbon monoxide poisoning at the Big Valley Jamboree 18-year-old Kayla DuChene says it could have been a dramatically different ending for her and three other teens, if friends hadn't pulled them out of their trailer.
DuChene is now recovering at home after getting several rounds of treatment in the hyperbaric chamber at the Misercordia Hospital in Edmonton this weekend.
She and friend Ryan Caputo have been released, but two other friends still remain in hospital.
The four teens were bunking in a trailer at the Big Valley Jamboree Friday night. The group had some speakers on the top of their trailer and rushed to put a tarp overtop when it started raining. They went to bed and then awoke in hospital.
"Waking up in Camrose hospital the next day…I didn't know where I was and stuff," said DuChene. "I was trying to get up and I didn't really know what was going on."
DuChene and three of her friends, between the ages of 18 and 19, all suffered severe carbon monoxide poisoning after the vents of their trailer were sealed by the tarp they had placed overtop.
Friend Marc Bredo broke into their trailer and helped pull the four teens out after they didn't get up in the morning. When he went into the trailer, he said he knew something was wrong.
DuChene says the quick-thinking actions of her friends, saved her life.
"It just kind of hit me yesterday, what happened and what could have happened," said DuChene. "They told us if we were in there for two more hours it could have been a different ending."
While police have not confirmed the cause of the incident, DuChene is confident the tarp caused the carbon monoxide to become trapped. She hopes others don't make the same mistake.
"We didn't think about anything, just a fluke accident…our mistake I guess," said DuChene.
Two of DuChene's friends still remain in hospital getting treatment.
