Poison deaths ‘tragic’

Coroner calls for carbon monoxide detectors after boat accident

ALL boats with enclosed cabins and petrol-driven motors should have a carbon monoxide detector fitted to prevent poisoning deaths on board, a Tasmanian coroner says.

Simon Cooper’s recommendation — and another that petrol generators not be modified — comes after his investigation into the deaths of two men on a boat at a marina at Derwent Park in 2016.

Gregory Burling and his mate Brian Daley were found dead in the cabin of the Double B — owned by Mr Burling and another friend Brian Lowe — on January 11.

Mr Cooper said their deaths, by carbon monoxide poisoning, were a “tragic and completely avoidable accident”.

On January 9, Mr Burling and Mr Daley, along with Mr Lowe and his daughter, started a journey in the Double B from Bicheno to Hobart.

The boat was at anchor in Wineglass Bay when the young woman started fitting. Her father rang 000 and the pair were taken by helicopter to the Royal Hobart Hospital and later discharged without a diagnosis. Mr Burling and Mr Daley continued sailing to Hobart and arrived about 6.45pm on January 10.

They spent the night at the marina at Prince of Wales Bay.

Mr Daley spoke on the telephone to Mr Lowe about 10pm. Mr Lowe told investigators Mr Daley had sounded intoxicated. When he went to the marina the next morning he could not rouse either of his friends by mobile phone.

Mr Lowe gained access to the boat and found both men dead in the cabin. Pathology tests showed they had died of carbon monoxide poisoning.

“Both deaths were entirely avoidable and were due to a poorly installed and maintained petrol-driven generator and the absence of any device to warn as to the presence of carbon monoxide in the cabin,” Mr Cooper said.

He said the extension to the exhaust pipe was unsuitable and the end of the pipe was “for all practical purposes blocked”.

Mr Cooper also recommended petrol-driven generators only be used in accordance with manufacturer’s recommendations, not be installed in a confined space and not have the exhaust system modified.

A spokesman for the State Government said it would “carefully consider” the coroner’s findings.

The Government mailed information to households in 2017 on the dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning.

“In addition, the Director of Gas Safety has developed a detailed brochure which is being made available through caravanning, boating and camping outlets as well as through Service Tasmania,” he said.