A couple found deceased in their camping van during a cider festival were victims of carbon monoxide poisoning, as revealed in an inquest. Christopher Coll, 45, and Kayleigh Coll, 38, residents of Blandford Forum, Dorset, passed away on October 12 while participating as exhibitors at the cider craft festival in the New Forest.
The inquests, conducted separately at Winchester Coroner’s Court, disclosed that the couple, running a business and pursuing accounting training, had attended the fair to showcase crafts and had been residing in their van at the exhibition site’s field. Their bodies were discovered by fellow exhibitor Alexander Huxley, who, noticing their absence at their stall around 11.30am, investigated and detected a strong gas odor upon opening the van door.
Upon inspection following their demise, it was found that the gas heater in the van was improperly connected to a gas bottle, resulting in a gas leak. The inquest raised speculations on how the disconnection occurred. Further evidence provided by Howard Jonas of Flogas highlighted that heaters like the one used by the couple should only be operated outdoors or in well-ventilated areas.
The coroner mentioned that the couple’s demise was not accidental but a consequence of using a gas heater unsuitable for indoor use, resulting in carbon monoxide poisoning. She classified their deaths as misadventure due to the unintentional outcome of using the heater.
Expressing concerns, the coroner emphasized the necessity of clear safety warnings on heaters regarding usage in enclosed spaces to prevent future fatalities. Family members remembered Kayleigh as a kind-hearted individual and Christopher as a devoted father with aspirations of self-sufficiency and living off the land.
During the inquest for Kayleigh, it was revealed that the couple rarely slept in the van, doing so as a one-time effort to promote their business. The coroner also pointed out that the gas odor detected was not relevant to their deaths, as it was the odorless carbon monoxide that caused their tragic end.