A couple from Blandford Forum, Dorset, died from carbon monoxide poisoning after using a gas heater inside their camper van at a cider festival last October, an inquest held at Winchester coroner’s court revealed. Christopher Coll, 45, and his wife Kayleigh, 38, were exhibitors at the New Forest cider craft festival when they were found deceased on October 12.

The couple had stayed overnight in their van on the exhibitor field. Their bodies were discovered by fellow exhibitor Alexander Huxley the following morning after the couple did not appear at their stall. Upon opening the van door, Huxley was met with a strong smell of gas and found the heater attached to a gas canister, but neither of the Colls was responsive.

An inspection carried out after the deaths found the gas heater was improperly connected to the gas bottle, causing a leak. Experts testified that the parabolic heater used was designed only for outdoor or well-ventilated use, not for enclosed spaces such as a camper van.

Hampshire area coroner Rosamund Rhodes-Kemp stated that while the decision to use the heater indoors was deliberate, the resulting carbon monoxide poisoning was an unintended consequence. She concluded the deaths as misadventure rather than accidental, emphasizing the tragic nature of the incident. The coroner also expressed concern about the lack of clear safety warnings on the heaters regarding use in confined spaces and said she would contact the manufacturers to address this issue.

The inquest highlighted that carbon monoxide, a non-smelling gas, was the cause of death, making the noticeable butane gas odor detected by Huxley largely irrelevant. Family members attending the hearings remembered Kayleigh Coll as a remarkably kind person, while describing Christopher Coll as a devoted father with aspirations to live off the land.

Rhodes-Kemp offered her condolences, saying, “It’s an absolute tragedy for two young people to die like this,” underscoring the need for greater awareness and safety measures around gas heater usage in enclosed environments.