A couple, identified as Christopher Coll, 45, and Kayleigh Coll, 38, from Blandford Forum, Dorset, were tragically found deceased in their camper van at a cider festival, succumbing to carbon monoxide poisoning, as confirmed by an inquest. The incident occurred on October 12 during their participation as exhibitors at the cider craft festival in the New Forest.
Both Christopher and Kayleigh, a business owner and a trainee accountant, had set up their crafts stall at the festival and had chosen to stay overnight in their van located in the exhibitor area. Their untimely demise was discovered by a fellow exhibitor, Alexander Huxley, who grew concerned when they failed to show up at their stall the next morning. Upon investigating, he encountered a strong gas odor upon opening the van door.
A subsequent inspection revealed that the couple had used a gas heater connected to a partially filled cylinder, with the heater not securely attached to the gas bottle, leading to a gas leak. Hampshire area coroner Rosamund Rhodes-Kemp stated that the exact cause of the disconnection leading to the tragic incident remains unknown.
Testimony from Howard Jonas of Flogas during the inquest emphasized that parabolic heaters should only be used in well-ventilated or outdoor spaces to prevent such incidents. The coroner highlighted that the couple’s demise was a result of carbon monoxide poisoning due to inappropriate use of the gas heater inside their camper van.
The coroner expressed concerns regarding the absence of safety warnings on heaters indicating unsuitability for enclosed spaces and pledged to contact manufacturers to address this issue to prevent future tragedies. Family members remembered Kayleigh as a kind individual and Christopher as a loving father with aspirations of self-sufficiency through land living.
It was revealed during the inquest that this was a one-time occurrence of the couple sleeping in the van as they sought to establish their business. Despite the detection of a gas smell by Mr. Huxley, the primary cause of death was attributed to odorless carbon monoxide toxicity. The coroner extended her sympathies to the families, acknowledging the profound tragedy of the event.
