Pembrokeshire Coroner Michael Howells is calling for new guidelines on solid fuel appliances after the death of a former forester by carbon monoxide poisoning.

Leslie George Bateman was pronounced dead shortly after he was found in his armchair at Cawdor Cottage, Stackpole Court, on February 7th. He was 87.

Fuels maintenance expert, William Bowen, inspected the premises and said there was ‘a strong smell of sulphur’ in the kitchen, which had no fixed ventilation.

After performing a smoke test on the Rayburn — which normally ran on smokeless fuel — Mr Bowen discovered the chimney was 99% blocked.

External doors which should have provided access to the chimney for maintenance were rusted shut, indicating that it had not been cleaned for many years.

At an inquest last week, Michael Howells said he would send his report to the Government, asking them to consider introducing appropriate regulations for solid fuel appliances, as there are currently no specific regulations.

As a previous employee of the Stackpole Estate, Mr Bateman had occupied the cottage during his retirement under a grace and favour arrangement with owners the National Trust.

His daughter-in-law, Margot Bateman, was the last person to see Mr Bateman when she called round in the week before his death.

She described him as ‘fit and well’, but noticed a ‘tarry, coaly sort of smell’ about the kitchen.

On the day Mr Bateman was found, his son and daughter-in-law again noticed the smell, along with a layer of dust on the Rayburn and chimney cleaning equipment which had been left out.

Despite a stroke which had affected his speech and mobility, Mr Bateman would often be seen in Stackpole on a mobility scooter and was described as ‘very bright in his mind’.

“He was an incredibly independent character,” said Mrs Bateman.

A pathologist’s report concluded that carbon monoxide in Mr Bateman’s system acted alongside his existing heart disease to cause his death.

Mr Howells recorded a verdict of death from carbon monoxide poisoning produced as a result of inadequate maintenance of flues and chimneys of a solid fuel appliance.

A spokesman for National Trust said: “At this time our sympathies lie with the family of Leslie Bateman. Leslie was a popular and well-respected man who had lived and worked on the Stackpole Estate for the majority of his working life.

“He is greatly missed by his former colleagues and many friends.

“The National Trust takes its duty of care to its tenants very seriously and is committed to ensuring their homes are as safe as possible. The trust shall work hard to ensure that this type of thing doesn’t happen in the future.”