A couple, Christopher Coll, 45, and Kayleigh Coll, 38, from Blandford Forum, Dorset, were tragically found deceased in their camper van at a cider festival due to carbon monoxide poisoning, as revealed during an inquest. The incident occurred on October 12 last year while they were participating in the cider craft festival in the New Forest.
The inquests, conducted separately at Winchester Coroner’s Court, disclosed that the couple, who owned a business and worked as a trainee accountant, had set up a stall at the fair to sell crafts and had stayed overnight in their van at a field designated for exhibitors.
Their bodies were discovered by fellow exhibitor Alexander Huxley, who became concerned when the couple did not arrive at their stall the next morning. Upon checking on them, he detected a strong gas odor upon opening the van door. Inside, he found a gas heater with a partially filled canister and the lifeless bodies of Christopher and Kayleigh Coll.
Subsequent investigations revealed that the gas heater was improperly connected to the gas cylinder, leading to a gas leak. The coroner, Rosamund Rhodes-Kemp, expressed uncertainty about how the disconnection occurred, emphasizing the importance of using heaters like these outdoors or in well-ventilated areas.
The coroner determined that the couple died from carbon monoxide poisoning after using the gas heater, not suitable for indoor use, with a partially filled gas cylinder the previous night. She classified their deaths as misadventure rather than accidental, attributing it to an unintended consequence of turning on the heater.
Ms. Rhodes-Kemp also raised concerns about the lack of safety warnings on such heaters regarding indoor usage. She mentioned plans to contact the manufacturer to ensure appropriate warnings are in place to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
Family members described Kayleigh Coll as exceptionally kind, and Christopher Coll as a loving individual who cherished his children and aspired to a self-sufficient lifestyle. The inquest revealed that the couple rarely slept in the van but did so on this occasion to support their budding business venture.
