Couple killed by faulty flue (From Western Telegraph)

Couple killed by faulty flue

The tragic story of a young couple who were killed by carbon monoxide fumes in the shower at their home at Cresselly in September was recounted at an inquest at Milford Haven on Thursday.

Lethal defects in the showers gas heater appliance were found by an expert called in by the Health and Safety Executive, Pembrokeshire Coroner, Mr Michael Howells, was told.

He recorded verdicts of death by misadventure on Karl Hone Bissett, aged 31, and 22-year-old Rosalyn Harris, of Schwandi, Whitehill, Cresselly.

Investigator Howard Reed, of Cardiff, said the flue did not comply with safety regulations as it bent to almost 90-degrees near the heater and was squashed up under the eaves where melting and scorching of the plastic was in evidence.

Part of the heater unit was also blocked by white deposits and these defects would have caused a build up of high levels of carbon monoxide. An extractor fan in the shower room would have drawn fumes out of the flue in the absence of other ventilation, he added.

Miss Harris father, Mr John Harris, described the tragic events of Saturday, September 15th, when he became concerned at the length of time his daughter was in the shower. With the help of neighbours Reg and Rosemary Griffiths, whom the Coroner praised as more than good neighbours, he broke into the room and the couple were dragged out. But resuscitation attempts by them and by paramedics failed to revive them.

Mr Harris said the shower in a granny flat annexe to the bungalow had been used daily for the 15 years the family had lived there and there had been no previous problems. It had never been serviced because he did not know this was necessary. He usually opened the window when he used it.

His son, Mr Matthew Harris, asked Mr Reed if a strong wind could affect the flue and he agreed it could.

The Coroner said a post mortem revealed that the cause of death was carbon monoxide poisoning, and added: There was something wrong with the whole set up of that shower room.