A 10-year-old boy is suffering from brain damage after his family’s home was fumigated, according to a family attorney.
CNN reports that Peyton McCaughey’s parents, Lori and Carl McCaughey decided to get rid of the termites which had devastated their home and organised for Sunland Pest Control, a subcontractor for Terminix to get the pests treated on August 14.
The family’s lawyer, Bill Williams told CNN that the family were told it was safe to return to their Florida home two days later on August 16 but once home they immediately fell ill.
According to Peyton’s uncle, Ed Gribben the whole family suffered from nausea and clear signs of poisoning.
Lori and Carl McCaughey, and their 7-year-old daughter recovered, but Peyton’s health kept declining.
He has since lost a reported 90 per cent of his motor skills, suspected from his exposure to sulfuryl fluoride, a gas fumigant that was reportedly used in the McCaughey’s home.
“He was… eyes rolling, legs weren’t working. He couldn’t hold himself up,” Mr Gribben explained.
The family says CT scans confirm the brain damage.
“He’s got his personality; he will still smile and still laugh, but he can’t get the words out that he wants to say and can’t move the way he wants to move, and frustration sets in,” Gribben said.
It is unknown if the boy will make a full recovery but the family are hopeful and have set up a GoFundMe page to raise money for the family to take time off to care for Peyton.
Terminix, the world’s largest pest control company, has expressed sadness over the incident and released the following statement:
“We are saddened to learn of this and our hearts are with the family. We are carefully reviewing the matter.”
At the time of print it is understood the family has not filed a lawsuit.
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