Leah Churchill and Brooke Wanstall Wiki, Biography
A mother and her teenage daughter have been found dead in a burger van after reportedly suffering carbon monoxide poisoning from the generator fumes. Leah Churchill, 50, and Brooke Wanstall, 17, were found dead in the Meat ‘N’ Greet Snack Wagon in Whitstable, Kent, on Tuesday morning.
Churchill’s son, Tyla Wanstall, spoke of his devastation of discovering the bodies of his mother and “beautiful baby sister”, who had been decorating the van as a surprise for his 26th birthday.
It is believed they had started the generator to try and keep warm while they were decorating the van. Wanstall, of Faversham, Kent, said: “They were decking the van out inside in balloons and bunting as a birthday surprise for me, like my mum would do at home every year.
“I didn’t even know they were going down there last night but she must have started the petrol generator up to keep warm without realising the danger.” Mr Wanstall says the generator is used outside the van during working hours but kept inside overnight for security reasons.
He said he arrived at the wagon at about 8am to start work and was surprised to see his mum’s car parked up outside. “I opened the van door and saw my mum and sister and for an instant thought they had fallen asleep,” he recalled.
I smelt fumes but it just didn’t register straight away, but it became obvious they were both dead. “I called the police and ambulance but it was the firefighters who told me it was likely carbon monoxide poisoning.
“It’s heartbreaking to think they spent their last few moments just trying to put a smile on my face.” Wanstall said his mother was “so kind and would do anything for anyone”, adding: “She would take a homeless man in off the streets if she was allowed.”
He said his sister, who had just completed her GCSEs at Archbishop’s School in Canterbury, “had her whole life in front of her”, and was working as a carer. Wanstall issued a warning about the dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning.
He said: “Mum made a fatal mistake and we don’t want this to happen to anyone else. “Be aware of this thing, people. If you haven’t got a carbon monoxide alarm go and get one. It is a serious killer.” The family are planning a balloon release in memory of the victims on Herne Bay beach.
Yahoo News UK has contacted Kent Police for a comment.
Tyla, further claimed that the thought that the mother and daughter had spent their dying minutes “trying to put a smile on my face” left him feeling “heartbroken.” He added that his mother mostly worked in hospitality but had been helping him with the burger van during the week. Churchill, who was a mother of four, is survived by Tyla, daughter Ocean, 23, and a 12-year-old son, Sonny. Tyla described his mother as a ‘kind’ soul, who ‘would do anything for anyone’.
He later revealed that Brooke was about to start her career after completing her GCSEs. “She had her whole life in front of her,” he said. “She did really well in her grades and had just started work as a career, which she was really enjoying. She was also due to take her driving test next week.” Tyla continued by warning people about carbon monoxide. “Be aware of this thing, people. If you haven’t got a carbon monoxide alarm go and get one. It is a serious killer,” he added. “I don’t know how we’re ever going to get over this.” Carbon monoxide killed 116 people in the UK in 2020, the most recent data from the ONS shows.
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