Updated | 14 hospitalised after falling ill during wedding

A wedding on Saturday night at Montecristo, Luqa, could have had serious repurcussions when 14 members of the catering staff where hospitalised after inhaling carbon monoxide.

According to information provided by the police, some appeared to have lost consciousness.

It also said that three of the workers, an 18-year-old man from Mqabba, an 18-year-old woman from Zurrieq and a 43-year-old man from Siggiewi were at one point in danger of dying. Fortunately, all three are now in stable condition and are being kept under observation.

Three others - a 27-year-old man from Gudja, 22-year-old man of Qormi and a 20-year-old woman resident Birzebbugia are being kept at the hospital as well. MaltaToday is informed that one of them has also been released.

Eight others, whose age varied between 17 and 64, were admitted to the hospital for the necessary medical care and have now been discharged.

According to media reports, the incident happened after cooking equipment was taken indoors because of high winds which hit the wedding premises.

In a statement, the health ministry said all patients who were yesterday admitted to Mater Dei Hospital after inhaling gas leaks at the wedding reception will be discharged tomorrow.
 
Six patients are being kept under observation and will be released tomorrow.
 
The Major Incident Protocol was initiated after 14 employees of a Catering establishment fainted during a wedding reception at a complex in Ħal Farruġ.
 
Emergency Consultants and five ambulances were dispatched on site to assist the 14 employees. All were admitted to Mater Dei Hospital and given immediate medical assistance by the A&E Team.
 
"Initially three patients, (two men and a woman) were in a critical condition but later their condition stabilised and were transferred temporarily to the Hyperbaric Unit," the ministry said.
 
In total, five patients were transferred to the Hyperbaric Unit (four men and a woman) and another woman was admitted to the Observation Ward.

The patients at the Hyperbaric Unit early this morning were admitted to the Medical Wards for observation and all will be discharged from Mater Dei Hospital tomorrow.
 
The other eight  patients were given medical assistance and discharged immediately.
 
The accident happened when the organisers transferred the reception indoors due to the high winds prevailing on the Maltese Islands yesterday. The catering establishment's staff inhaled gas leaks which led to their condition.
 
Health Minister Godfrey Farrugia yesterday thanked all the staff concerned at Mater Dei Hospital for their sterling work and also thanked the members of the Malta Police Force and the Department for Civil Protection for their immediate response.

Members of the Protection Department and members of the Hazmat section were called on site to inspect the place.

Police investigation is ongoing.