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Heaters safety call after tragedy Heaters safety call after tragedy
(40 minutes later)
The parents of a teenager who died with a friend when they spent the night in a summer house have called for safety improvements in gas heaters.The parents of a teenager who died with a friend when they spent the night in a summer house have called for safety improvements in gas heaters.
Dean Lewis and Jordan Ball, who were 18, from Cwmbran, Torfaen, died from carbon monoxide poisoning in March. Dean Lewis and Jordan Ball, both 18 and from Cwmbran, Torfaen, died from carbon monoxide poisoning in March.
The inquest heard a portable heater in the outbuilding was capable of giving out lethal doses of carbon monoxide.The inquest heard a portable heater in the outbuilding was capable of giving out lethal doses of carbon monoxide.
After accidental death verdicts were recorded, Jordan's family demanded that lessons are learnt from the tragedy.After accidental death verdicts were recorded, Jordan's family demanded that lessons are learnt from the tragedy.
After the hearing, they released a statement saying: "If lessons can be learned from this tragedy, why can't the manufacturers of gas heaters install a built-in carbon monoxide detector that cuts out the gas supply if detected?"After the hearing, they released a statement saying: "If lessons can be learned from this tragedy, why can't the manufacturers of gas heaters install a built-in carbon monoxide detector that cuts out the gas supply if detected?"
The tragic deaths of Jordan and Dean highlight the need for greater awareness of the general public as to the safe operation of gas heaters Wendy James, deputy Gwent coronerThe tragic deaths of Jordan and Dean highlight the need for greater awareness of the general public as to the safe operation of gas heaters Wendy James, deputy Gwent coroner
Deputy Gwent coroner Wendy James heard evidence that the portable heater had been modified by Jordan months earlier with a piece of wood baton to keep a faulty button depressed and the flame burning. Deputy Gwent coroner Wendy James heard evidence that the portable heater had been modified by Jordan, a trainee bricklayer, months earlier with a piece of wood baton to keep a faulty button depressed and the flame burning.
Tests after the deaths showed this modification had by-passed a safety feature on the appliance.Tests after the deaths showed this modification had by-passed a safety feature on the appliance.
It was also found to have faulty burners and could pump out lethal doses of carbon monoxide.It was also found to have faulty burners and could pump out lethal doses of carbon monoxide.
The Newport inquest was told it had not been serviced in the two years since David Ball, Jordan's father, received it second hand. The Newport inquest was told it had not been serviced in the two years since it was received second hand.
The inquest in Newport heard how the two friends has been out the previous night before they went to bed in the outbuilding of Jordan's family home in the Pontnewydd area of Cwmbran, in the early hours of 21 March. The inquest heard how the two friends has been out the previous night to a nightclub and both were "merry" when they returned home at 0300 GMT.
David Ball said he broke into the outbuilding later that evening and found the teenagers dead on the sofa bed settee with the television still on. We miss him so much... it feels like all the colour has drained from our lives Jordan Ball's family
The deputy coroner said it was an "extremely tragic case where two promising young men have needlessly lost their lives at a time when they were on the brink of adulthood with their whole lives ahead of the. Not wishing to disturb anyone, the friends retired to the outbuilding of Jordan's family home in Pontrhydyrn, Cwmbran, in the early hours of 21 March.
David Ball broke into the building later that evening when he and Jordan's mother Rachel could not get an answer.
He said he had first gone to the summer house just after noon and found the door locked with the television on. But he was not worried because Jordan often slept in the den.
But later when the door was still locked at 2100 GMT he broke in.
Mr Ball said: "I took a hammer and went in. I could hear the gas like a hissing noise coming from the fire."
Extremely tragic case
His wife said said: "We saw Jordan and Dean lying on the sofa bed and my husband went to shake them. It did no good."
Howard Reed, a gas investigation engineer, told the inquest the heater was "in a poor state and had a malfunction" to prevent proper ventilation.
The deputy coroner said it was an "extremely tragic case where two promising young men have needlessly lost their lives at a time when they were on the brink of adulthood with their whole lives ahead of them".
She said: "The tragic deaths of Jordan and Dean highlight the need for greater awareness of the general public as to the safe operation of gas heaters."She said: "The tragic deaths of Jordan and Dean highlight the need for greater awareness of the general public as to the safe operation of gas heaters."
Jordan's family said after the inquest: "We miss him so much. It feels like all the colour has drained from our lives.
"Dean was a good friend of Jordan's and a lovely young man. They are both dearly missed by literally hundreds of people."