A coroner has announced plans to contact the manufacturer of a parabolic gas heater to determine if sufficient warnings against indoor use are provided, following the deaths of a married couple in their camper van last autumn. Kayleigh Coll, 38, and Christopher Coll, 45, tragically died from carbon monoxide poisoning after operating the heater inside their vehicle in October 2025.
The couple, who had been married for two years and had four children between them, were found deceased in their parked van in a field near Burley, Hampshire. They had been running a craft stall at the New Forest Cider Festival and were reportedly using the parabolic heater, connected to a gas bottle, overnight. Their inquests, held in Winchester, heard that the couple, from Blandford Forum, Dorset, were sleeping in the van as a one-off arrangement to support their burgeoning business.
Hampshire coroner Rosamund Rhodes-Kemp recorded conclusions of death by misadventure. She stated that the Colls suffered carbon monoxide poisoning because they used a gas cylinder with a heater not designed for an enclosed environment. The coroner emphasised her intention to contact the heater's manufacturer, believing that clearer warnings on the device itself could prevent future fatalities.
Howard Jonas, representing Flogas, which inspected the heater, provided expert testimony during the inquest. He clarified that parabolic heaters are intended solely for outdoor use or in spaces with ample ventilation. The court heard that Kayleigh and Christopher were discovered on Sunday, 12 October 2025, after they failed to return to their stall, prompting concern among organisers.
Family members attending the hearings paid tribute to the couple, describing Kayleigh as "the most kind person you could ever meet" and Christopher as a "very loving, good person" who "absolutely adored" his children. A crowdfunding effort established to support their four children garnered over £33,000, underscoring the community's response to the profound loss.