Window Cleaner Dies From BBQ In Back Of Van

The victim's father: 'It seems the public are all too unaware of the dangers of these disposable BBQs'

Man died after cooking food on a barbecue in his van: A window cleaner died after barbecuing food in the back of his van at a Hampshire campsite. Nicholas Holmes' body was discovered by police when his friends reported him missing after they failed to get in contact with him. He had been killed by carbon monoxide poisoning. The barbecue was found in the back of the 22-year-old window cleaner's van with evidence he had cooked burgers on it, a Southampton inquest heard. Southampton deputy coroner Gordon Denson this morning issued a plea to the public to be aware of the dangers of disposible barbecues. Mr Holmes, who enjoyed fishing and playing chess, texted his friends to say he was going on a last minute camping trip on his own on May 29. But when they failed to hear from him they alerted police, who found his body inside his white Peugeout Partner van at Hollands Wood campsite in Brockenhurst on June 1. A small tent was nearby with mr holmes' sleeping bag. D.S. Andy Hedley of southampton said his body was found in a relaxed position on the front seat.

He said a silver type temporary barbecue was put on some folded t-towels in the back of the van to prevent burning of his van and there were packets of baps and burgers nearby with food missing and cooking utensils. DS Hedley said he was satisfied there was no third party involvement. A post mortem carried out by Norman Carr found he had died as a result of carbon monoxide poisoning. Deputy coroner Gordon Denson recorded a verdict of accidental death. He said: "On the evidence before me I am satisfied that nicholas holmes death was an unforeseen and tragic accident in that he was unaware of the dangers of a lit barbecue in a confined space. He added he is aware all disposible barbecues do have warning notices on them but he said it appeared these were overlooked. He added: "I feel that I can only make a plea that members of the public take careful notice of printed warnings so these events are not repeated."

Speaking after the inquest Mr Holmes' mother and father paid tribute to their son and echoed the coroner's plea for people to be aware of the dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning. Mum Elisabeth, said: "He was the best son in the world together with my other son." Dad Philip, 52, said: "He was a sensitive bright intelligent young man who we are going to miss very much. "He died from a tragic accident it just seems the public are not aware of the dangers of these disposable barbecues. "As we learnt they spew out carbon monoxide 12 hours after they have been used and there have been numerous cases of people losing their lives as a result."

Father warns of dangers of disposable barbeques after son's accidental death: Nicholas Holmes, 22, had gone for a short break on his own to the Hollands Wood campsite at Brockenhurst in the New Forest, Hampshire, at the end of May. His friends alerted police after they had not heard from him for a couple of days.  A police officer found his body on June 1 sitting in the front of his white Peugeot Partner van, his head resting on a pillow with his smartphone and headphones on the dashboard in front of him along with a bottle of lager and some Jehovah Witness leaflets. Detective Sergeant Andy Hedley, of Hampshire Police, said that a used disposable barbecue was found in the rear of the closed van along with open packets of burgers and buns, of which two of each had been eaten. He said: ''The scene would suggest he had cooked an evening meal with two burgers and baps. It would then appear he closed the rear doors and allowed the barbecue to burn out. ''He then sat in the front of the van, taking a pillow with him, he was sat in a relaxed position.''

Pathologist Dr Norman Carr said that a post-mortem examination revealed that the cause of death was carbon monoxide poisoning. Recording a verdict of accidental death, Deputy Coroner for Southampton and the New Forest Gordon Denson said: ''I am satisfied that Nicholas' death was an unforeseen and tragic accident in that he was unaware of the dangers of a lighted BBQ in a confined space which produces a situation where carbon monoxide is present. ''I am aware there are warnings on packets of BBQs, it is clear these were overlooked. ''I make a plea that members of the public take careful note of the printed warnings so these events are not repeated.'' ''It seems the public are all too unaware of the dangers of these disposable BBQs, ''They spew out carbon monoxide for 12 hours after they have been used and there have been numerous cases of people losing their lives or nearly losing their lives.

He said that his son, who lived in Waterlooville, Hampshire, had just started his own window-cleaning round and added that he was a keen chess and video games player. He said: ''He was a sensitive and intelligent man. ''Two hundred and fifty people came to his funeral, he was popular, it's just sad none of them were around at the moment he needed a bit of help, but that is because he chose to be on his own for a while.'' His mother, Elisabeth Holmes, added: ''He was the best son in the world along with my other son.'' Earlier this year, six-year-old Isabelle Harris, from Gosport, Hampshire, died of carbon-monoxide poisoning after her parents brought a disposable BBQ into their tent to keep warm during a camping trip also in the New Forest.