An 88-year-old woman who was found dead inside a caravan in Victoria's north was killed by carbon monoxide poisoning, the Coroners Court has confirmed.
An investigation found the fridge had been modified with a flue extender to release carbon monoxide.
It had to be fed through one of the campervan windows to ensure the proper escape of carbon monoxide whenever the fridge was in operation.
Possum3 said
11:42 AM Jul 6, 2023
Tragic result of improper installation.
Tony Bev said
01:34 PM Jul 6, 2023
Yes very sad, RIP to the Lady and her family
Easy to forget the danger of something that you are unable to see, hear, or smell
A pity the work had not been signed off by a gas fitter, as a permanent flue, would have been fitted
Greg 1 said
04:18 PM Jul 6, 2023
A carbon monoxide alarm is a cheap piece of equipment and easily installed.
Should be mandated in all new vans.
rmoor said
04:41 PM Jul 6, 2023
Sounds like good advice that.....
I have a gas connection in my new (old) van but won't be using it. Have some other alternatives and as WILL NOT be chasing cold climates will be 90% outside anyway hopefully.....
deverall11 said
09:07 AM Jul 7, 2023
Whilst a very unfortunate result, this is the type of thing that results in more regulations etc....
yobarr said
10:16 PM Jul 7, 2023
Greg 1 wrote:
A carbon monoxide alarm is a cheap piece of equipment and easily installed. Should be mandated in all new vans.
Agreed. Although I have NO gas supply in my van I do gave a diesel heater which I sometimes leave running all night. Because carbon monoxide is slightly lighter than air I have the 4 seasons hatch cracked open, but I installed a carbon monoxide alarm, just because! Only about $25, from memory. And yes, I do know that carbon monoxide is only slightly lighter than air, and will actually diffuse around the room.
But it wont exit via any door vent, which I do not have anyway. Cheers
-- Edited by yobarr on Friday 7th of July 2023 10:22:33 PM
Google words Victoria , carbon monoxide poisoning , coroners report finds several media articles
Direct link to PDF is https://www.coronerscourt.vic.gov.au/sites/default/files/2018-12/soniasofianopoulos_356617.pdf
-- Edited by PeterX on Wednesday 16th of August 2023 02:02:49 AM
Kebbin said
07:22 AM Aug 16, 2023
This could be a time to check whether or not your Carbon Monoxide detector is actually detecting CO as British authorities have recalled after failing up to 80% of safety tests. One article refers to Amazon & Ebay purchased monitors but it would have to be other platforms as well.
My neighbour got a Mitsubishi air conditioner installed in his Unit. It is so quiet, & the energy efficiency is so good on these things (I have Daikin).
Maybe worth reconsidering AC set-up on one's caravan.
Bicyclecamper said
01:10 PM Aug 16, 2023
Whenarewethere wrote:
My neighbour got a Mitsubishi air conditioner installed in his Unit. It is so quiet, & the energy efficiency is so good on these things (I have Daikin).
Maybe worth reconsidering AC set-up on one's caravan.
One needs power ( electricity) for that, we have a 3 way portable fridge, that we use for camping, we only use it when we are at a powered site as you cannot use them in a camper, and using them out side, if it is windy the flame goes out plus not safe outside in warm weather, so hence we use a excellent esky now that survives for 13 days on one bag of ice. We paid $70 for it in Feb this year. Don't tell me to buy a 2 way fridge, as I don't have nor do I intend to get the extra battery power for it.
-- Edited by Bicyclecamper on Wednesday 16th of August 2023 01:13:47 PM
"ESV (Energy Safe Victoria) advised the current mandatory safety standards for gas fridges and similar appliances require such appliances to be equipped with an automatic shutdown system when carbon monoxide concentration (PPM) exceeds 75ppm or when oxygen saturation levels decrease below 18%."
-- Edited by dorian on Wednesday 16th of August 2023 02:17:21 PM
Coroner finds 88yo woman died from carbon monoxide poisoning from modified campervan fridge:
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-07-06/coroner-cohuna-camper-died-from-carbon-monoxide-poisoning/102568602
An 88-year-old woman who was found dead inside a caravan in Victoria's north was killed by carbon monoxide poisoning, the Coroners Court has confirmed.
An investigation found the fridge had been modified with a flue extender to release carbon monoxide.
It had to be fed through one of the campervan windows to ensure the proper escape of carbon monoxide whenever the fridge was in operation.
Easy to forget the danger of something that you are unable to see, hear, or smell
A pity the work had not been signed off by a gas fitter, as a permanent flue, would have been fitted
Sounds like good advice that.....
I have a gas connection in my new (old) van but won't be using it. Have some other alternatives and as WILL NOT be chasing cold climates will be 90% outside anyway hopefully.....
Agreed. Although I have NO gas supply in my van I do gave a diesel heater which I sometimes leave running all night.
Because carbon monoxide is slightly lighter than air I have the 4 seasons hatch cracked open, but I installed a carbon monoxide alarm, just because!
Only about $25, from memory.
And yes, I do know that carbon monoxide is only slightly lighter than air, and will actually diffuse around the room.
But it wont exit via any door vent, which I do not have anyway. Cheers
-- Edited by yobarr on Friday 7th of July 2023 10:22:33 PM
The coroners report is on this page www.coronerscourt.vic.gov.au/inquests-findings/findings Case ID is COR 2022 001126
Google words Victoria , carbon monoxide poisoning , coroners report finds several media articles
Direct link to PDF is https://www.coronerscourt.vic.gov.au/sites/default/files/2018-12/soniasofianopoulos_356617.pdf
-- Edited by PeterX on Wednesday 16th of August 2023 02:02:49 AM
www.thesun.co.uk/money/6597000/dozens-of-potentially-deadly-carbon-monoxide-alarms-sold-on-amazon-and-ebay-pulled-after-failing-up-to-80-of-safety-tests/~:text=DOZENS%20of%20carbon%20monoxide%20alarms,the%20tests%20conducted%20by%20Which%3F.
My neighbour got a Mitsubishi air conditioner installed in his Unit. It is so quiet, & the energy efficiency is so good on these things (I have Daikin).
Maybe worth reconsidering AC set-up on one's caravan.
One needs power ( electricity) for that, we have a 3 way portable fridge, that we use for camping, we only use it when we are at a powered site as you cannot use them in a camper, and using them out side, if it is windy the flame goes out plus not safe outside in warm weather, so hence we use a excellent esky now that survives for 13 days on one bag of ice. We paid $70 for it in Feb this year. Don't tell me to buy a 2 way fridge, as I don't have nor do I intend to get the extra battery power for it.
-- Edited by Bicyclecamper on Wednesday 16th of August 2023 01:13:47 PM
That PDF is a different CO poisoning case.
This is the correct one:
https://www.coronerscourt.vic.gov.au/sites/default/files/Finding%20of%20Ms%20RM.pdf
"ESV (Energy Safe Victoria) advised the current mandatory safety standards for gas fridges and similar appliances require such appliances to be equipped with an automatic shutdown system when carbon monoxide concentration (PPM) exceeds 75ppm or when oxygen saturation levels decrease below 18%."
-- Edited by dorian on Wednesday 16th of August 2023 02:17:21 PM