A FATHER of three from Sheffield was killed by carbon monoxide poisoning on a family camping trip in Derbyshire – after using a gas lamp which may have had an incorrectly fitted shade.
Businessman Paul Griffiths, aged 43, of Sterndale Road, Millhouses, was camping in Over Haddon, Derbyshire, when he was found dead in his tent, an inquest heard.
Paul, who ran Sheffield-based firm Dialogue Communications, was found by daughter Rachel when she tried to wake him after thinking he had overslept.
In a statement read to jurors at Chesterfield Coroners' Court, Rachel said there were 20 people in the camping group, and on the day before her dad's death he was "in good health and very happy".
"The next morning I was up and about with my friends. I noticed dad was not up, and as more time went on people began to pack up.
"I wondered why dad was still in his tent, so I went in, opening the zip. I saw dad lying down and thought he was asleep. I zipped the door back up and decided to let him sleep in some more."
Rachel said she played football with her friends, and noticed her dad didn't react when the ball hit the door of his tent.
"I decided to go and wake him. I opened the door of the tent. I put my hand on to dad's shoulder to shake him, shouting to him at the same time.
"Then I saw dad's face and thought he was unconscious. I shouted and people came running over."
Rachel said she didn't know whether her dad used his single-flame Campingaz lamp in the tent or not: "I was in bed before my dad went to sleep."
Forensic scientist David Halliday, who examined Paul's green and black tent and the gas lamp, said the appliance could had given off carbon monoxide if used in a poorly-ventilated area – such as a tent.
Mr Halliday told jurors the lamp's glass shade was fitted incorrectly, creating a gap between it and the shade's metal frame.
"This lamp, under those conditions, was giving off a high level of carbon monoxide," he said. "With the shade clipped in place properly the lamp was not giving off carbon monoxide."
Mr Halliday said the lamp gave a reading of 1,800 to 2,000 parts per million of carbon monoxide while set up incorrectly, and added exposure to the deadly gas over 1,000 parts per million can cause "unconsciousness, respiration failure and death".
He tested the lamp in Paul's tent with its two ventilation flaps shut, and found the lamp gave off fatal levels of carbon monoxide with the shade fitted incorrectly.
Mr Halliday showed the court a warning tag attached to the lamp's metal frame reading: "Only use in a well ventilated area."
Paul left a wife Louise, son Michael, and two daughters, Isobel and Rachel.
The inquest into the tragedy in July 2007 continues
I don't know about anyone eles, but my first rule of thumb. Is to check to make sure all equipment, is in good working order, before going camping.
I check my heater and cooker before going away. If they do not work as they should. Then they are ditched and replaced.
The Gas lamp should have been checked before going away and working properly and everything is fitted how it should.
If anyone did this, then the fault would have been found. This tragic incident would have been avoided.
There are many people on here, who use gas lamps.
Old hands will do this automatically.
heath63
------------- New Year: Hesketh Bank
Feb/March: Red Squirrel
March: lakes
June: Morecambe
Aug: Lake District(not camping camping)
October: Red Squirrel
I suppose they will return another verdict of 'accidental death' once again but when it clearly states that the appliance is 'to be used in a well ventilated area' then it's nothing more than ignorance although this was a double whammy by not fitting the shade correctly. When will people learn that gas fumes otherwise known as Carbon Monoxide are indeed fatal, will take no survivors and will KILL.
I truly feel sorry for the daughter as it must have been a shock that she will remember for the rest of life. Tragic.
Quote: Originally posted by tango55 on 24/1/2013
When will people learn that gas fumes otherwise known as Carbon Monoxide are indeed fatal, will take no survivors and will KILL.
Gas fumes are not carbon monoxide, unless the appliance is used incorrectly, or with inadequate ventilation.
Note what the forensic scientist said "With the shade clipped in place properly the lamp was not giving off carbon monoxide."
The simple answer is just ensure you don't go to bed with anything burning. I'm sure this will happen every year simply because even otherwise intelligent people don't understand the risks.
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Topic: Dad gassed on a camping trip
