The Hilton Garden Inn in downtown Portsmouth Monday reported a carbon monoxide leak that sickened 11 people – including guests hanging out in the poll area and two of the hotel’s workers in a basement laundry area.

According to a briefing by hotel spokesman Scott Tranchemontagne, the potentially-toxic carbon monoxide leak, which occurred at around 10 a. m. - was caused by a leaking exhaust vent in the basement boiler room of the hotel, which was soon evacuated.

Tranchemontagne reported that the sickened people were taken to a hospital; and all except one of them – a female worker in critical condition - were treated and discharged by Monday afternoon. The worker, who fell unconscious, was rushed to the hospital in serious condition, but had stabilized during the day.

As per the information forwarded by Steve Achilles, the Assistant Chief of the Fire department, firefighters carrying carbon monoxide detectors found there were ‘unacceptable’ levels of carbon monoxide all across the hotel’s 131 rooms.

Achilles elaborated that the 600 parts per million of carbon monoxide detected in the hotel air was much higher than the ‘normal’ 35-45 parts per million level. Authorities were of the opinion that had the leak occurred during the night while people were asleep, the situation might have been catastrophic.