Carbon Monoxide Warning
Couple Die From Carbon Monoxide in Campervan at Festival, Coroner Issues Heater Warning
Anonymous
Key Points
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Outdoor-use-only parabolic heater not securely attached to the gas cylinder, with about 10% of gas remaining in the cylinder, indicating a hazardous setup and a device not intended for indoor use was being operated in an enclosed space.
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The discovery of the couple was dramatic: the person who found them reported being hit by a wall of gas and a hissing sound when opening the campervan door, underscoring the lethal build-up of carbon monoxide.
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At the New Forest Craft Cider Festival, the couple were exhibitors selling copper-wire trees as part of Mr Coll’s Mystacoll’s Spirit business.
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The inquest returned a verdict of misadventure and the coroner said she would contact the heater manufacturer regarding the equipment used.
A married couple died from carbon monoxide poisoning after sleeping in their campervan at a Hampshire cider festival in October 2025. Christopher Coll, 45, and Kayleigh Coll, 38, from Blandford Forum, Dorset, were found dead inside their Nissan campervan at the New Forest Craft Cider Festival on October 12, according to Dorset Echo.
The couple, who had four children, were exhibitors selling copper-wire trees at the event. An outdoor-only parabolic gas heater had been left running overnight in their sealed vehicle. The inquest returned a verdict of misadventure.
Faulty Heater Connection Caused Lethal Gas Build-Up
The heater was designed for outdoor use only and was not meant to be run inside an enclosed space. Investigators found the connection between the heater and its gas cylinder was not secure, Daily Mail reported. About 10% of gas remained in the cylinder, showing a significant amount had leaked out overnight while the couple slept.
The person who found the couple the next morning said they were hit by a wall of gas and heard a hissing sound when they opened the campervan door. Carbon monoxide is colorless and odorless, meaning the Colls would have had no warning as it built up around them while they slept.
Couple Found After Failing to Open Their Stall
The Colls were exhibitors at the festival through Mr. Coll's business, Mystacoll's Spirit, which sold copper-wire trees. The night before they were found, they had been socializing with a fellow trader, according to Dorset Echo. The next morning, another exhibitor grew concerned when the couple did not appear to set up their stall.
That exhibitor went to check on them and discovered the couple inside the Nissan campervan. Emergency services were called, but both Christopher and Kayleigh were already dead. Family members later described them as devoted parents and kind people, according to Daily Mail.
Coroner Issues Safety Warning Over Portable Gas Heaters
Coroner Rosamund Rhodes-Kemp ruled the deaths misadventure caused by carbon monoxide toxicity, according to Swindon Advertiser. She warned of the serious dangers of using portable gas heaters inside enclosed spaces. She said she would contact the heater's manufacturer directly about the equipment involved in the deaths.
The coroner also called for better risk assessments at events where exhibitors sleep in temporary or makeshift accommodation. The case has raised questions about safety rules at festivals and pop-up markets where traders stay overnight in vehicles, Head Topics reported.
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