Couple found dead in Blue Mountains makeshift cabin
This is the container where a man and a woman in their thirties were found dead in Kurrajong, in the Blue Mountains, believed to have been killed by carbon monoxide poisoning.
NSW
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A COUPLE has died in a tragic long-weekend mishap in the Blue Mountains.
The Birchgrove man and woman, aged 32 and 31, are believed to have died in their sleep from suspected carbon monoxide poisoning after camping in a steel container with a cooking pot of hot coals. The pair were discovered at 7.30am yesterday by the woman’s sister at the Kurrajong property. They could not be revived.
The dead couple had been staying in one of three shipping containers converted into makeshift accommodation with the property owners and their two children. The property’s owners are also believed to live in the inner west and had the 20ha weekender on the market.
The Birchgrove couple were in the middle container — a makeshift kitchen — while the family of four were in an adjoining container.
Two men left the property late yesterday with one driving a car believed to belong to the dead couple.
One of the men said the incident was tragic. “Yeah, it is (sad) for the family,” he said.
Neighbours left flowers at the gatepost of the property.
Hawkesbury Police Detective Inspector Suzanne Rode-Sanders said the deaths were not being treated as suspicious: “It appears they had some sort of makeshift heater inside in the cabin and there was not any ventilation, and as result they may have asphyxiated with carbon monoxide poisoning. They have been together for a couple of years. They were with other family members at the time, so you can appreciate it’s a horrific incident, especially for one of the relatives to walk into.” Insp Rode-Sanders said the family was distraught: “Very emotional and upset.
“It’s a tragic situation, you always have to be mindful that when there is any sort of open fire it creates fumes and you need ventilation.”
Neighbour Stephen Bellamy said he had spoken to the property owner: “He didn’t want to say too much, naturally. It’s friends of his.
“I was glad he and his family were OK. A really nice guy.
“To think somebody else, a young couple died. To think kids have got to go through something like this is terrible.”
Mr Bellamy said it had been a relatively mild night: “It does get pretty cold but last night it only got down to five. It wasn’t cold but if you are from the city it could be cold.”
The long-time Kurrajong resident said the shipping containers were adapted for people to live in but had no open windows: “There’s none. A container is waterproof, it’s sealed. These ones for cabins you have sealed glass window but none you can really open up. You need to keep the door ajar.’
Rural Fire Service Deputy Group Captain Ken Pullen said the tragedy was a reminder about fire safety: “It’s a time to remind people of the dangers of having a fire inside. You need to be in a properly ventilated structure. Carbon monoxide is odourless and unseen, so therefore it’s very dangerous when it builds up. You suffocate.”
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