A tragic accident claimed the lives of Christopher Coll, 45, and his wife Kayleigh, 38, both from Blandford Forum, Dorset. The couple died from carbon monoxide poisoning after running a gas heater inside their campervan during a cider festival in the New Forest.
The couple, attending the festival as exhibitors on October 11 last year, chose to sleep overnight in their campervan on the event field after socializing with fellow stallholders. The following morning, exhibitor Alexander Huxley found them unresponsive inside the van. He had become concerned when they did not appear at their stall by around 11:30 a.m.
Upon opening the campervan door, Mr. Huxley noticed a strong smell of gas. An inspection revealed a gas heater connected to a cylinder containing about 10 percent of gas but improperly fitted, causing a gas leak.
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An inquest held at Winchester Coroner’s Court revealed that the couple’s deaths were caused by carbon monoxide inhalation from the gas heater, which was not designed for indoor use. Experts from Flogas, the inspecting firm, emphasized that such heaters should only be operated outdoors or in well-ventilated areas.
Coroner Rosamund Rhodes-Kemp expressed that although the heater was deliberately switched on, the resulting deaths were unintended. The verdict recorded the deaths as misadventure. She also highlighted concerns that heaters might lack clear safety warnings about the dangers of indoor use and plans to contact manufacturers to address this issue.
The coroner noted that the butane gas odor detected by Mr. Huxley was misleading, as the actual cause of death was the odorless carbon monoxide.
Family and friends paid heartfelt tributes to the couple. Kayleigh was remembered as incredibly kind, while Christopher was described as a loving father with dreams of a self-sufficient life. The couple’s overnight stay in the campervan was a rare, one-time decision while working to establish their business.
Their sudden and tragic deaths serve as a sobering reminder of the dangers posed by improper use of gas appliances in enclosed spaces.