A man who found his mother and sister dead inside a burger van has warned others about the dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning.
Tyla Wanstall, 26, owns a burger fan in Kent in the UK, and his mother and sister decided to decorate it in celebration of his birthday.
His mother Leah Churchill, 50, and sister Brooke Wanstall, 17, switched on a generator in the van, which Wanstall only used outside instead of the confines of the vehicle, as reported by BBC News.
Tragically, the van owner would find his mother and sister deceased in the vehicle as a suspected result of carbon monoxide poisoning last week.
Firefighters who arrived at the scene discovered that the generator had run dry and there was a high carbon monoxide reading.
In an interview with Kent Online, the 26-year-old explained that his mother and sister were putting up balloons in the van and had turned the generator on to keep warm.
Wanstall has now warned others about the dangers of the poisonous gas that is often referred to as the silent killer and urges everyone to install carbon monoxide alarms.
Speaking to BBC News, he said: "My sister was 17. She was a baby. She was just starting her life. She'd got her driving test next week. She was a kid. She wasn't even 18. She didn't even experience life.
"My mum just did anything for anyone. All my mates loved her, she loved all my mates. She died - they both lost their lives - in their last moments in this trailer putting a smile on my face."
Wanstall added: "It was a mistake my mum made just out of the goodness of her heart and that was it and it's taken both of their lives."
As per the CDC, carbon monoxide (CO) is an invisible, odorless gas that can have fatal consequences. It is released from burnt fuel in cars or trucks, small engines, stoves, lanterns, grills, fireplaces, gas ranges, or furnaces.
Each year, more than 400 Americans lose their life after being poisoned by the gas, with over 100,000 having to be admitted to the hospital. Less than 2% of carbon monoxide in the air can kill in minutes.
Ways to prevent tragedies occurring within the home include fitting a carbon monoxide alarm along with getting your heating system, water heater, and any other gas, oil, or coal-burning appliances annually serviced by a qualified technician.
The dangers also arise in vehicles such as vans and also while camping. It is important to keep anything that emits fumes outside of the confines of a building, vehicle, or tent where the gas can't escape.
Our thoughts are with the family of Leah Churchill and Brooke Wanstall following this tragic accident.
