Christopher Coll, 45, and Kayleigh Coll, 38, from Blandford Forum, Dorset, died from carbon monoxide poisoning after falling asleep with a gas heater on in their camper van at a craft cider festival in the New Forest on October 12 last year, an inquest has heard.
Discovery and investigation
The couple were found dead by fellow exhibitor Alexander Huxley, who had met them the night before over drinks and music. When they failed to appear at their stall around 11.30 the next morning, he went to check on them and opened the van door to a strong smell of gas. He saw a gas heater with a canister attached and the couple motionless in the back.
An inspection of the heater and cylinder found it had been used with 10% of gas remaining, and the heater was not securely fitted to the gas bottle, causing a gas leak. Hampshire area coroner Rosamund Rhodes-Kemp said: "We’ll never know how the connection became disconnected."
Inquest conclusion
Howard Jonas, from Flogas, the company that carried out the inspection, said parabolic heaters should only be used outdoors or in well-ventilated spaces. The coroner stated: "Overnight on the 11th they suffered carbon monoxide poisoning due to running a camper gas cylinder with a heater that was not designed for use in an inside environment."
She concluded their deaths were misadventure, as it was a deliberate act to turn on the heating but with unintended consequences. She raised concerns about whether safety warnings are present on such heaters for use in enclosed spaces and said she would contact the manufacturer to see if a warning is on the device itself, adding: "I think that may prevent a future death."
Family tributes
Family members described Kayleigh Coll as the most kind person you could ever meet, and Christopher Coll as a very loving, good person who adored his children and had goals to live off the land and be self-sufficient. The inquest heard that sleeping in the van was a one-off as they tried to get their business off the ground.
