LAKE DELTON, Wis. (AP) - A suspected carbon monoxide leak during a junior hockey game at a Wisconsin ice rink sent dozens of people to hospitals, and the arena said Sunday that it will investigate whether an ice resurfacing machine may have been the source of the deadly gas.
At least 81 people were treated for symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning after the leak was discovered at Poppy Waterman Ice Rink in Lake Delton on Saturday, the Wisconsin State Journal reported.
Players reported having headaches, dizziness and nausea after a game between the Dells Ducks and the Rochester, Minnesota, Ice Hawks, the Delton Fire Department said. One player fainted, the department said.
Only one person was known to still be receiving treatment Sunday. One Ducks player was getting oxygen therapy at a hyperbaric chamber in Milwaukee, the Minnesota Junior Hockey League said.
Rochester coach Nick Fatis and at least one other Ice Hawks player will receive further treatment at Mayo Clinic, the league said.
Fatis told the Star Tribune that the symptoms started showing up among his players Friday night during a game against the Ducks at the same rink. Leading up to Saturday's game, players were complaining of headaches, said Fatis, who thought it was cold or flu "but didn't really pick up on" carbon monoxide poisoning. Once Saturday's game began, players had trouble breathing and several failed to finish the game, he said.
"I feel like this was a very avoidable situation," Fatis said.
The cause of the leak is unknown. Rink officials said tests are planned Monday on the arena's two ice resurfacers.