Pack Safe Appeal
Hudson Foley Memorial Campaign for Carbon Monoxide Travel Safety
On a mission to save lives. One carbon monoxide alarm at a time.
The Pack Safe Appeal was born out of a tragic and avoidable accident. Hudson Foley died at just 24 years of age while he was travelling overseas from carbon monoxide poisoning in a homestay accommodation in Ecuador.
Hudson’s mother, Cathy Foley, has created the Pack Safe Appeal in an effort to raise awareness of the dangers of carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning and to encourage anyone who travels, especially young backpackers, to pack a carbon monoxide alarm. The campaign also aims to galvanise the travel industry and to ensure all holiday providers ensure carbon monoxide safety in traveller accommodation.
Read on to find out about Hudson’s life and love of travel, and to learn more about the campaign.
Remembering Hudson
Hudson’s story
Hudson Foley was born to Paul and Cathy Foley on June 10th, 1999, the youngest of three, with brother Jordan and sister Natasha.
Tragically, at just 24 years old, Hudson died of carbon monoxide poisoning whilst staying in a homestay accommodation in Quito, Ecuador.
Hudson, also known as Huds, Huddy and Colonel (due to his love of KFC), was a model traveller: young, personable, and with a spark to enjoy and help the world.
After saving up for months, Hudson left his home in Surrey and headed to Latin America in May 2023, where he spent the next few months travelling around the region, staying in accommodation chosen by a well-known travel company specialising in young people’s travel. His structured trip included volunteering on local projects and learning Spanish.
On the morning of Wednesday 30th August 2023, Hudson ate a hearty breakfast, laughed and joked with his homestay family and other volunteers, and telephoned home. Within minutes of having gone for a shower, Hudson was found passed away in the bathroom.
Hudson had been feeling ill for several days. He was usually fit and healthy, but had complained about sickness and light-headedness, and had passed out several times.
On the morning of 30 August, Hudson passed away in the bathroom. Hudson had been poisoned by carbon monoxide, an invisible, odourless toxic gas that quickly starves the body of oxygen, causing life-changing damage and death.
Hudson died with a carbon monoxide blood level of 51.75% - normal levels of carbon monoxide levels in healthy adults range between 0 to 5%.
Hudson was repatriated and laid to rest on 19th October 2023 at our local church in Camberley, Surrey.
Hudson was adored and loved by so many. His enthusiasm for life, his positivity and his exuberant nature were infectious. He had the biggest smile and his kindness and consideration for others was beyond belief for someone so young.
Hudson was a skilful table tennis player representing two clubs in our area. He was also a talented golfer and a loyal Chelsea supporter, travelling to games with his brother and father on a regular basis. Hudson had great selfcare, exercising daily, eating healthily, and avoiding alcohol, drugs and pharmaceuticals, so it is even more tragic that his short life should be ended in the way that it was – being poisoned.
Our campaign
Backpackers like Hudson travel abroad often unaware of the health and safety risks in the places they stay; Hudson is the latest tragedy in a dark history of Britons passing away from carbon monoxide poisoning while holidaying abroad.
Carbon monoxide is a toxic gas produced by fuel-burning appliances that can’t be seen, smelled, or tasted. Appliances such as generators, heaters and boilers can produce carbon monoxide, particularly when old, poorly maintained, or in poorly ventilated rooms.
Carbon monoxide can kill within minutes and causes life-changing mental and physical injuries to survivors.
There is no universal standard when it comes to carbon monoxide safety - the laws, regulations and policies differ from one country to another, making it difficult to understand what controls are in place in each destination. The only way to detect carbon monoxide and prevent rapid decline and death is with an alarm, while vigilance can help register dangerous situations.
The ‘Pack Safe Appeal’: Hudson’s Campaign for Carbon Monoxide Travel Safety exists because of a tragic avoidable accident.
Our work is inspired by the life of the person we lost.
We’re campaigning to call on holiday providers to ensure carbon monoxide safety in accommodation, and to encourage young backpackers and holidaymakers pack carbon monoxide alarms.
Travel guides and websites to feature carbon monoxide-related safety notices
Accommodation providers to adopt safety measures, such as ensuring carbon monoxide alarms and gas safety checks in accommodation
Travel providers to include carbon monoxide alarms in kit lists, and provide safety briefings to customers
Government travel guidance to communicate carbon monoxide-related travel safety issues to travellers
Campaign asks
Pack an alarm
The safest way to protect yourself from carbon monoxide poisoning is to pack a carbon monoxide alarm.
They are light, portable and can fit in a backpack or carry-on. And you can buy one for less than £20.
We’ve partnered with SafeLincs, fire and safety solutions, who offer portable travel carbon monoxide alarms, kitemarked to British safety standards for both residential and camping/caravanning use.
You can buy your alarm here. Use the code HUDSON15 to save 15 percent.
Spreading awareness
Hudson’s mother Cathy Foley and brother Jordan Foley joined presenters John Kay and Nina Warhurst on BBC Breakfast on Wednesday 31 July to tell Hudson’s story and get the word out about the risks associated with carbon monoxide. Alongside Safer Tourism Foundation’s, Stephanie Boyle, they told viewers about portable carbon monoxide alarms and how a £20 device could save a life.
Cathy and Paul Foley spoke to ITV about losing their son to carbon monoxide poisoning and why they launched the Pack Safe Appeal. Safer Tourism Foundation’s Katherine Atkinson highlights how far the industry has come, but reminds viewers that it’s critical travellers are armed with the right knowledge and take proper precautions.
