Husband and wife died from carbon monoxide poisoning in their campervan at cider festival after using gas heater not suitable for indoors, inquest hears

By CLAIRE DUFFIN, SENIOR REPORTER Published: 18:56, 22 July 2026 | Updated: 18:58, 22 July 2026 A married couple died from carbon monoxide poisoning at a cider festival after they went to sleep in their campervan with a leaky gas heater on that should not have been used indoors, an inquest heard.  Christopher and Kayleigh Coll, who had four children, were found dead in their campervan having succumbed to fumes released by the gas heater which they switched on before bed in chilly October temperatures. The heater they used was not designed to be used in enclosed spaces due to the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning and it was also found that the heater was not screwed in tightly to its gas cylinder, the inquest on Wednesday heard.  The person who found the bodies of Mr and Mrs Coll, 45 and 38, was 'hit with a wall of gas' and 'hissing noise' when he opened the door to their white Nissan campervan. Mr and Mrs Coll had been camping at New Forest Cider Festival, Hants, as they were working as stall traders at the event last year, selling small copper wire trees. The couple, pictured on their wedding day, had four children Chris and Kayleigh Coll, 45 and 38, were found dead their campervan in the New Forest A picture of the heater the couple used was shown at the inquest on Wednesday. It was not designed to be used in enclosed spaces and they succumbed to the fumes from it The couple, from Blandford Forum, Dorset, were found dead after another seller went to look for them when they did not turn up in the morning to trade. Mrs Coll, who was a trainee accountant, and Mr Coll, a business owner, were last seen having drinks with Alexander Huxley the night before in Burley, Hants. A coroner at Winchester Coroner's Court, Hants, ruled their deaths were a result of misadventure. Mr and Mrs Coll had been married around four years and they were attending the craft cider festival in the Burley area of the New Forest National Park. They were camping in the field at the rear of the festival because they were running a stall at the festival, as Mr Coll made small trees out of copper wire. Kelly Simonsohn, Mr Coll's sister, told the inquest: '[Chris] was a good person. He was very loving. He absolutely adored his kids. 'He was very family-centred. He had lots of ideas for the future, a bit like Del Boy.' Mara Sivyer, Kayleigh's mother, said: '[Kayleigh] was an angel. She was the most kindest-hearted person you would ever meet. 'If she thought you needed her last pound, she would give it to you.' Area Coroner Rosamund Rhodes-Kemp said that Mr Huxley found the couple on the morning of October 12, after he became worried that they had not arrived for the start of the festival. Mr Huxley had seen the couple the night before when they were having a drink together, and he said he saw them return to their campervan that night. He said when he opened the door to the campervan, he was 'hit by a wall of gas,' and he could smell gas, as well as hear 'hissing', which he thought was gas. He saw the couple deceased in the campervan but turned around in 'shock' and left the door open. When the police and ambulance arrived, they pronounced the couple dead at 12.15pm. The police said that the windows and the door were shut. Ms Rhodes-Kemp said that after a toxicology report, it was found the couple had died from carbon monoxide poisoning, but there was no third-party involvement. Ms Rhodes-Kemp said: 'Toxicology was clear that it was carbon monoxide. For that to have happened, the heater had to be on, and it was October that is why they took the heater. 'The Carbon Monoxide would have occurred simply by having it on in an enclosed space. 'On top of that, just to confuse matters further, however it happened the heater and cylinder have become partially disconnected. 'The heater and gas cylinder connection was not tight. It is a combination of things that have happened.' The van and the gas heater were taken for testing by the police. Howard Jonas, an expert gas witness who works for Flogas Britain, said that the cylinder appeared to be in good condition but the heater was not properly attached to the cylinder. Mr Jonas said: 'What [the tester] did notice was that the heater was not properly fitted into the cylinder.' He said that a small knock could cause the heater not to be fitted into the cylinder, but it was unclear how this had happened. He said that the type of heater being used was a Parabolic heater, which is not designed to be used indoors and must be used in well-ventilated areas. Mr Jonas said that the heater has no type of sensor to switch itself off. Mr Jonas said the gas cylinder was 'almost empty' and only had 10 per cent of its contents left in it. He said: 'They should only be used in an outdoor environment or a well-ventilated location. They are not safe for use in anywhere there is insufficient ventilation.' Mrs Coll's mother, Ms Sivyer said: 'They only used this van for this one occasion otherwise they would have been in a tent with the kids. 'They bought the van for future, so they could go with us. 'It was an everyday vehicle that was being used. That is why there was no ventilation. 'It was not designed to be a campervan. 'This was a one off, trying to get their business off the ground and they made a fatal mistake. 'They slept in it once before but that was summer time so no heating.' Ms Rhodes Kemp ruled that Mr and Mrs Coll died of carbon monoxide poisoning and gave the conclusion that it was misadventure. She said that the heater should have a label on it saying it is not suitable for use indoors to prevent future deaths.  Ms Rhodes-Kemp said: 'The facts are Kayleigh and Chris were attending a craft festival in order to sell crafts. They had gone with a Nissan campervan, a small one. 'We know on the 11th they suffered carbon monoxide poisoning due to running a camping gas cylinder with a heater that was not designed for use in an indoor environment. 'We know from Mr Huxley none of the windows were open. The cause of death is carbon monoxide poisoning. 'I will be locating the manufacturers of the heater to see if a warning is on the heater because of the risk of future death. 'All I can say is I am terribly sorry because it is an absolute tragedy. Two young people to die like this. 'I am sorry for the children and all the friends and family. I really am most desperately sorry.' Ms Rhodes-Kemp added: 'It is just a mistake to close all the windows and turn the heating on. It is an absolute tragedy. 'It was a deliberate act to turn the heater on with a totally unintended consequence.'