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| Coroner warns campers of dangers posed by barbecues | Coroner warns campers of dangers posed by barbecues |
| (8 months later) | |
A coroner has warned of the dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning after the "terrible, tragic and horrible" death of a man in a campsite pod in Cumbria. | A coroner has warned of the dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning after the "terrible, tragic and horrible" death of a man in a campsite pod in Cumbria. |
| Christopher Bainbridge, 45, a council official from Darlington, County Durham, had booked a three-day break at a campsite by Ullswater with his 43-year-old wife Jane. | Christopher Bainbridge, 45, a council official from Darlington, County Durham, had booked a three-day break at a campsite by Ullswater with his 43-year-old wife Jane. |
| Within hours of their arrival at the campsite in March, they lit a portable barbecue outside the pod. | Within hours of their arrival at the campsite in March, they lit a portable barbecue outside the pod. |
| He was never seen alive again. Bainbridge was found 72 hours later when campsite managers searched the pod, after work colleagues and the couple's families raised the alarm. | He was never seen alive again. Bainbridge was found 72 hours later when campsite managers searched the pod, after work colleagues and the couple's families raised the alarm. |
| He was found dead, slumped in a chair. His wife was unconscious on a floor. She was taken to Cumberland Infirmary, Carlisle, where she was in a coma for several weeks. | He was found dead, slumped in a chair. His wife was unconscious on a floor. She was taken to Cumberland Infirmary, Carlisle, where she was in a coma for several weeks. |
| She told the inquest at County Hall, Kendal, that she could remember very little of what had happened. She recalled feeling very ill after visiting the campsite office and being told to return to her pod as the weather had changed for the worse. | She told the inquest at County Hall, Kendal, that she could remember very little of what had happened. She recalled feeling very ill after visiting the campsite office and being told to return to her pod as the weather had changed for the worse. |
| She had staggered through the campsite bumping into caravans "as if she had been on a bender", when she had only had one pint of lager to drink. | She had staggered through the campsite bumping into caravans "as if she had been on a bender", when she had only had one pint of lager to drink. |
| Bainbridge said she had no idea how the barbecue had got inside the pod or why the door was shut behind them. | Bainbridge said she had no idea how the barbecue had got inside the pod or why the door was shut behind them. |
| PC Diane Owen told the inquest she found cooked food on paper plates. She had investigated and found no other suspicious circumstances. | PC Diane Owen told the inquest she found cooked food on paper plates. She had investigated and found no other suspicious circumstances. |
| Quiet Site proprietor Daniel Holder who found the couple and the barbecue inside the pod said it was cold when he found it. | Quiet Site proprietor Daniel Holder who found the couple and the barbecue inside the pod said it was cold when he found it. |
| Since the tragedy, he said the industry had woken up to the dangers of barbecues or other lit material inside pods and tents. | Since the tragedy, he said the industry had woken up to the dangers of barbecues or other lit material inside pods and tents. |
| The pods, constructed of timber with rubber coated tin roofs, and are fully insulated with sheep's wool. Carbon monoxide detectors have been fitted. | The pods, constructed of timber with rubber coated tin roofs, and are fully insulated with sheep's wool. Carbon monoxide detectors have been fitted. |
| There are electric heaters and ventilation is through the double doors at the front and a small window at the back, which can be opened. | There are electric heaters and ventilation is through the double doors at the front and a small window at the back, which can be opened. |
| Coroner Ian Smith said this was commendable and there was no blame attached to the campsite. | Coroner Ian Smith said this was commendable and there was no blame attached to the campsite. |
| "This was a terrible, tragic, horrible accident. This couple had come to the Lake District as a weekend away, rented a no-frills pod and intended to cook their own food," | "This was a terrible, tragic, horrible accident. This couple had come to the Lake District as a weekend away, rented a no-frills pod and intended to cook their own food," |
| "At some point the barbecue was moved inside. It can only have been Mr or Mrs Bainbridge who were also inside. The result was appalling in that there was a build-up of carbon monoxide over a very long period of time." | "At some point the barbecue was moved inside. It can only have been Mr or Mrs Bainbridge who were also inside. The result was appalling in that there was a build-up of carbon monoxide over a very long period of time." |
| The coroner said there should be a campaign warning everyone, including householders as there is with smoke detectors, "of the potentially fatal danger of carbon monoxide poisoning." | The coroner said there should be a campaign warning everyone, including householders as there is with smoke detectors, "of the potentially fatal danger of carbon monoxide poisoning." |
| Home Office Pathologist Dr Fergus Young said death was due to carbon monoxide poisoning. Bainbridge had a small trace of alcohol in his blood, but not enough to affect his judgement. | Home Office Pathologist Dr Fergus Young said death was due to carbon monoxide poisoning. Bainbridge had a small trace of alcohol in his blood, but not enough to affect his judgement. |
| The British Health and Safety Council said seven people had died in tents and pods in the last year from carbon monoxide poisoning. Carbon monoxide poisoning leads to 25 deaths a year. | The British Health and Safety Council said seven people had died in tents and pods in the last year from carbon monoxide poisoning. Carbon monoxide poisoning leads to 25 deaths a year. |
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