Man critical after paper mill gas leak expected to make 'full recovery'
A young man who was left fighting for life after after a suspected hydrogen sulphide gas leak at a paper mill near Albury is expected to make a full recovery.
Two other men, Lyndon Quinlivan, 36, and Ben Pascall, 28, died after inhaling the toxic fumes at the Norske Skog site in Ettamogah near the Victoria-NSW border on May 24.
Tom Johnson, 22, remained in a critical condition and on life support until Monday, but his family released a statement on Tuesday morning that said he had made "remarkable progress over the past week."
"He has now been taken off life support and is in a stable condition," the family's statement said.
"Tom is showing all the signs of a complete recovery to the point where he is now driving the nurses up the wall. The family are looking forward to getting Tom home. It has been a gruelling 11 days and for Tom we have had the best possible outcome."
The family paid tribute to staff at the Albury Hospital's Intensive Care Unit and said their thoughts were with the families of Mr Quinlivan and Mr Pascall.
"Our family extends our deepest sympathies to Ben and Lyndon’s families and friends," the statement said.
"Our thoughts and Tom’s thoughts are with you all."
The news comes the day after the grief-stricken girlfriend of Mr Pascall lauded him as "her best mate, soulmate and love of her life".
Georgia Webb paid tribute to Mr Pascall at a packed funeral service at St Matthew’s Anglican Church in Albury on Monday.
“He was not just my partner, but my best friend, my soulmate and the love of my life,” Ms Webb said.
“He gave me the strength to do everything and he taught me how to live. Ben became my whole world and made every day better.”
Mr Quinlivan, who was a father of two, will be farewelled at St Matthew's on Wednesday.
About 150 people were evacuated from the building after the leak and 18 were taken to hospital, including the two men who died. The other 15 people have since been discharged and Mr Johnson is the last person remaining in hospital.
The suspected gas hydrogen sulphide is a colourless gas with the odour of rotten eggs, and can pool in low areas because it is denser than air.
Exposure to high concentrations of the gas can result in pulmonary edema, or excess fluid in the lungs.
SafeWork NSW is investigating the cause of the leak.