Young couple found dead in campervan at cider festival after gas heater leaks

The death of an enterprising husband and wife at a cider festival in the New Forest National Park has been labeled an “absolute tragedy” by the coroner.

Christopher and Kayleigh Coll, aged 45 and 38 respectively, were found dead in their white Nissan van after an overnight stay at the New Forest Cider Festival.

At the event in October 2025, they were working as stall traders and selling small trees made of copper wire.

District coroner Rosamund Rhodes-Kemp said Colls, who had four children, succumbed to lethal fumes from a leaky gas heater, which should not be used indoors.

The cause of death was carbon monoxide poisoning, the court heard at Winchester Coroner’s Court on Wednesday.

He also found that the heater was not screwed tightly onto the gas cylinder.

Colls, of Blandford Forum in Dorset, was last seen drinking with Alexander Huxley in Burley on October 11.

Later, they slept in their minibus located in the area behind the festival, turning on the heater before going to bed due to the October cold.

The next morning, Mr. Huxley became concerned that the pair had not arrived for the start of the festival and went to look for them.

When he opened the van’s door, it “hit the gas wall” and heard a “hissing sound.”

He later saw the couple dead.

Police said the windows leading to the trailer were closed.

The couple had been married for about four years. Mr Coll was a business owner and Mrs Coll was a trainee accountant.

Ms Coll’s mother, Mara Sivyer, said they were using the van “just this once” and that it was not designed as a caravan.

“This was a one-off incident trying to get their business off the ground and they made a fatal mistake,” he said.

“They had slept there before, but since it was summer there was no heating.”

Ms. Sivyer described her daughter as an “angel” and added: “She was the most kind-hearted person you have ever seen.

“If he thought you needed every last pound he had, he’d give it to you.”

Mr Coll’s sister Kelly Simonsohn told the inquest: “[Chris] he was a good person. He was very loving. He absolutely adored his children.

“He was very family-oriented. He had a lot of ideas for the future, a bit like Dell Boy.”

Ms. Rhodes-Kemp said that after a toxicology report, it was determined that the couple died of carbon monoxide poisoning, but there was no intervention from a third party.

“Carbon monoxide could have occurred if it was kept in a closed area.

“Moreover, to further complicate matters, whatever happened, the heater and the cylinder were partially disconnected.

“The heater and gas cylinder connection was not tight. It’s a combination of things that were going on.”

The van and gas heater were taken away for testing by police.

Expert gas witness Howard Jonas, of Flogas Britain, said the cylinder appeared to be in good condition but the heater was not properly fitted to the cylinder.

He said a small knock could have caused the heater to fail to attach to the cylinder, but it was unclear how this happened.

He said that the type of heater used was a Parabolic heater, that it was not designed for indoor use and should be used in well-ventilated areas.

Mr. Jonas said the heater did not have any type of sensor that would turn it off.

He said the gas cylinder was “almost empty” with only 10 percent of its contents remaining inside.

Ms Rhodes-Kemp ruled that Mr and Mrs Coll died from carbon monoxide poisoning and concluded that this was a misfortune.

He said that the heater should have a label that is not suitable for indoor use.

“I will be locating the manufacturers of the heater to see if there is a warning on the heater due to the risk of future death,” he said.

“All I can say is that I’m very sorry because it’s an absolute tragedy. Two young people dying like this.”

“I’m sorry for the kids and all the friends and family. I’m really sorry.”

Ms Rhodes-Kemp added: “It’s just a mistake to close all the windows and turn the heating on. “It’s an absolute tragedy.

“Turning on the heater was a deliberate act with a completely unintended consequence.”