'I can't breathe:' Couple, dogs rescued after bug bomb mishap

Victims taken to hospital

VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. – A Volusia County couple were coughing, wheezing and barely able to breathe after setting off multiple bug bombs inside their home.

Herbert Scott called 911 from his Oak Hill residence shortly after 10 p.m. Thursday saying that he and his wife were experiencing respiratory issues.

"I can't breathe, and neither can my wife," Scott says between coughs and gasps.

During the five-minute 911 call, the operator urged Scott to get himself and his wife outside the home to wait for first responders.

"We tried to bomb the place of insects," the man says.

Scott told News 6 that he and his wife waited for at least an hour before going inside. His wife went in first only because she needed to use the restroom.

"I said, 'What's taking her so long?' So, I went into the house and found her collapsed on the floor, and when I was on the phone with 911, I went into a full-blown asthma attack," Scott said.

When Volusia County deputies arrived, they could smell a strong chemical odor emanating from the residence as Scott stood doubled over, coughing in the porch area. Two small dogs were barking near the man.

He told authorities that his wife was still inside and needed help, which was why he was hesitant to move off the porch to get fresh air. He said he set off four Raid bug bombs but thought that it would still be safe inside the home.

Body camera video shows first responders donned hazmat gear and entered the home to find the Scott's wife, who was seemingly unconscious. Authorities used a blanket to drag the woman outside.

Both victims were taken to an area hospital for treatment. The two dogs were transferred to animal services to receive medical attention.

"When we were at the hospital, they had to hose us off before they even got us into the emergency room itself," Scott said.

He had a word of advice for anyone using insecticide.

"Go by the timed guidelines, and definitely ventilate your place for at least two hours before even going back in there -- or longer," he said.


About the Authors:

Loren Korn is a native Texan who joined the News 6 team as a reporter in May 2014. She was born and raised in Houston and graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a degree in Journalism.

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