They had been decorating the van for a surprise birthday party
A mother and daughter have been found dead in a burger van after they reportedly suffered carbon monoxide poisoning from generator fumes.
Leah Churchill, 50, and her 17-year-old daughter Brooke Wanstall had been decorating the Meat ‘N’ Greet snack truck for a birthday celebration for Leah’s son and Brooke’s brother, Tyla Wanstall.
Tyla told KentOnline he found the pair inside his truck on Tuesday morning (February 14) after smelling fumes, saying it was “obvious they were both dead”.
He said their deaths had left him “heartbroken.”
The 26-year-old was unaware that his mum and sister had gone down to the food truck to prepare it for his birthday.
They were planning to decorate the van “in balloons and bunting” as a birthday surprise for him.
Tyla believes that his mum turned on the petrol generator so that she and Brooke could “keep warm” whilst decorating.
But they didn’t realise the danger of this. Portable generators can often cause carbon monoxide, along with appliances that burn gas, wood, oil and coal.
Because it is colourless and has no smell, people cannot tell when they are breathing it in.
Tyla explained that when in use, the generator is placed outside the van but is kept in the van overnight for security.
When he turned up at around 8am the next morning, at the food truck park in Whitstable, Kent, Tyla immediately smelt fumes as he opened the van.
Emergency teams called to the scene reportedly told him that the pair “likely” suffered carbon monoxide poisoning.
Their deaths are expected to be passed on to the local coroner for an inquest.
Leah leaves behind Tyla, daughter Ocean, 23, and a 12-year-old son, Sonny.
Tyla described her as someone who would “do anything for anyone.”
He said that his sister Brooke, who had just completed her GCSEs and had started working as a carer, was a “live-wire with a huge personality.”
Symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning include headaches, dizziness, feeling sick, feeling weak, confusion, shortness of breath, and chest and muscle pain.
You can find out more information about carbon monoxide poisoning on the NHS website.
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