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Carbon monoxide from faulty fireplace killed young mother Carbon monoxide from faulty fireplace killed woman, 25
(about 3 hours later)
A young mother died during her first night in her new home after being overcome by carbon monoxide from a faulty fireplace, an inquest heard on Wednesday. A young woman died during her first night in her new home after being overcome by carbon monoxide from a faulty fireplace, an inquest heard on Wednesday.
Kimberley Jones, who was 25, suffocated while sleeping on a makeshift bed in the living room of the property, which she was in the process of decorating, the coroner heard. Kimberley Jones, 25, suffocated while sleeping on a makeshift bed in the living room of the property in Cwmbach, near Aberdare, which she was in the process of decorating, the coroner heard.
Her father, Andrew Jones, said he warned his daughter to leave the windows open when using the fireplace to guard against carbon monoxide poisoning. “That will haunt me for the rest of my days,” he told the inquest.Her father, Andrew Jones, said he warned his daughter to leave the windows open when using the fireplace to guard against carbon monoxide poisoning. “That will haunt me for the rest of my days,” he told the inquest.
The coroner also heard evidence from the semi-detached house’s former owner, who insisted she had had the appliance serviced every 12 to 18 months. Linda Parfaitt, a former family friend of the Jones’s, also said that a component specifically designed to protect against deadly gas leaking out had been cleaned only two months before the house changed hands.The coroner also heard evidence from the semi-detached house’s former owner, who insisted she had had the appliance serviced every 12 to 18 months. Linda Parfaitt, a former family friend of the Jones’s, also said that a component specifically designed to protect against deadly gas leaking out had been cleaned only two months before the house changed hands.
But, according to an expert who also gave evidence at the inquest, the work had not been done for four to five years.But, according to an expert who also gave evidence at the inquest, the work had not been done for four to five years.
Andrew Jones, who was in the process of building a nursery for his six-month-old grandson, said he warned his daughter about the dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning and to keep the windows open.Andrew Jones, who was in the process of building a nursery for his six-month-old grandson, said he warned his daughter about the dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning and to keep the windows open.
“I said to my wife later that night I didn’t think Kimberley was going to like that fire and we would have to get a gas one. The following morning I was in Asda and I had a call from my wife saying she could not get hold of Kimberley. She was dead,” he told the inquest.“I said to my wife later that night I didn’t think Kimberley was going to like that fire and we would have to get a gas one. The following morning I was in Asda and I had a call from my wife saying she could not get hold of Kimberley. She was dead,” he told the inquest.
Kimberley was found dead by her mother on the morning of 9 August 2013. Her son had stayed with his grandparents the previous night.Kimberley was found dead by her mother on the morning of 9 August 2013. Her son had stayed with his grandparents the previous night.
Giving evidence, Parfaitt denied neglecting to maintain the fireplace. She said the last time she had the chimney swept was 15 months before Kimberley Jones died. She said she was not aware of the manufacturer’s guidance that chimneys must be swept twice a year to ensure safe upkeep of the appliance.Giving evidence, Parfaitt denied neglecting to maintain the fireplace. She said the last time she had the chimney swept was 15 months before Kimberley Jones died. She said she was not aware of the manufacturer’s guidance that chimneys must be swept twice a year to ensure safe upkeep of the appliance.
She also said the fireplace’s throat plates, which fitted between the appliance and the chimney’s flue and allowed toxic gas to escape out of the house safely, had been cleaned shortly before she sold the house.She also said the fireplace’s throat plates, which fitted between the appliance and the chimney’s flue and allowed toxic gas to escape out of the house safely, had been cleaned shortly before she sold the house.
But heating engineer Howard Reed told the inquest that the plate was jammed tightly with debris when he investigated it on behalf of South Wales police shortly after Kimberley’s death.But heating engineer Howard Reed told the inquest that the plate was jammed tightly with debris when he investigated it on behalf of South Wales police shortly after Kimberley’s death.
“It took me about 30 minutes to remove the throat plate when it should only take about 30 seconds. Because it was jammed it stopped the fumes going up the chimney’s airway and deflected them into the living room,” he told the inquest.“It took me about 30 minutes to remove the throat plate when it should only take about 30 seconds. Because it was jammed it stopped the fumes going up the chimney’s airway and deflected them into the living room,” he told the inquest.
The amount of carbon monoxide in the air was 16 times above the acceptable limit, the inquest heard. The amount of carbon monoxide in the air was 16 times the acceptable limit, the inquest heard.
The inquest in Aberdare continues.The inquest in Aberdare continues.