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| Carbon monoxide killed mother and daughter on Lake Windermere boat | Carbon monoxide killed mother and daughter on Lake Windermere boat |
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| A mother and her 10-year-old daughter died after inhaling carbon monoxide fumes as they slept on a moored motor cruiser on Lake Windermere, marine accident investigators have confirmed. | A mother and her 10-year-old daughter died after inhaling carbon monoxide fumes as they slept on a moored motor cruiser on Lake Windermere, marine accident investigators have confirmed. |
| Fumes from a generator, whose improvised exhaust and silencer system had become detached, had spread into the cabin where Kelly Webster, 36, and daughter Laura Thornton, who were on an Easter boating holiday, were asleep. The boat belonged to Matthew Eteson, who was Webster's partner, 39, who was on board but survived the incident. | Fumes from a generator, whose improvised exhaust and silencer system had become detached, had spread into the cabin where Kelly Webster, 36, and daughter Laura Thornton, who were on an Easter boating holiday, were asleep. The boat belonged to Matthew Eteson, who was Webster's partner, 39, who was on board but survived the incident. |
| "The boat's carbon monoxide sensor system did not alarm because it was not connected to a power supply," said an interim report by the Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB). | "The boat's carbon monoxide sensor system did not alarm because it was not connected to a power supply," said an interim report by the Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB). |
| The MAIB's report said: "A bank holiday weekend on board an 11-year-old Bayliner 285 motor cruiser ended tragically when a mother and her 10-year-old daughter died. Initial findings indicate the deceased were poisoned by carbon monoxide." | The MAIB's report said: "A bank holiday weekend on board an 11-year-old Bayliner 285 motor cruiser ended tragically when a mother and her 10-year-old daughter died. Initial findings indicate the deceased were poisoned by carbon monoxide." |
| It went on: "A 'suitcase'-type, portable, petrol-driven generator had been installed in the motor cruiser's engine bay to supply the boat with 240V power. The generator had been fitted with an improvised exhaust and silencer system which had become detached from both the generator and the outlet on the vessel's side. As a result, the generator's exhaust fumes filled the engine bay and spread through gaps in an internal bulkhead into the aft cabin where the mother and daughter were asleep. | It went on: "A 'suitcase'-type, portable, petrol-driven generator had been installed in the motor cruiser's engine bay to supply the boat with 240V power. The generator had been fitted with an improvised exhaust and silencer system which had become detached from both the generator and the outlet on the vessel's side. As a result, the generator's exhaust fumes filled the engine bay and spread through gaps in an internal bulkhead into the aft cabin where the mother and daughter were asleep. |
| "When the owner of the boat awoke in the boat's forward cabin, he was suffering from carbon monoxide poisoning, but was able to raise the alarm. The mother and daughter could not be revived. | "When the owner of the boat awoke in the boat's forward cabin, he was suffering from carbon monoxide poisoning, but was able to raise the alarm. The mother and daughter could not be revived. |
| "The boat's carbon monoxide sensor system did not alarm because it was not connected to a power supply." | "The boat's carbon monoxide sensor system did not alarm because it was not connected to a power supply." |
| The MAIB said the incident raised a number of safety issues. The bulletin said portable air-cooled petrol generators were readily available and inexpensive, but were usually intended for use in the open air. | The MAIB said the incident raised a number of safety issues. The bulletin said portable air-cooled petrol generators were readily available and inexpensive, but were usually intended for use in the open air. |
| It added that "the use or permanent installation of these engines on boats, particularly in enclosed spaces or below decks, increases the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning". | It added that "the use or permanent installation of these engines on boats, particularly in enclosed spaces or below decks, increases the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning". |
| The bulletin said it was essential that engine exhaust systems were fitted by qualified engineers and maintained to direct poisonous fumes outside the vessel clear of ventilation intakes and accommodation spaces. | The bulletin said it was essential that engine exhaust systems were fitted by qualified engineers and maintained to direct poisonous fumes outside the vessel clear of ventilation intakes and accommodation spaces. |
| The MAIB also warned boaters to be vigilant and recognise the signs of carbon monoxide poisoning. It added that the correct positioning and the regular testing of carbon monoxide sensors was essential. A full MAIB report into the incident will follow later. | The MAIB also warned boaters to be vigilant and recognise the signs of carbon monoxide poisoning. It added that the correct positioning and the regular testing of carbon monoxide sensors was essential. A full MAIB report into the incident will follow later. |
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