Pair victims of freak fumes leak
An accidental death verdict has been recorded on a Netherton couple poisoned by carbon monoxide at their Black Country home. A jury at Dudley Coroners Court yesterday took just 30 minutes to record its verdict on pensioners James and Molly Mcdonald.
The couple, both aged 74, breathed in the fumes coming from boreholes drilled into land next to their home in Bell Road, Netherton.
The holes had been drilled into the wasteland to test its stability just a couple of days before the couple were found dead in July last year.
The boreholes firm, M&J Drilling Services of Lower Gornal, had followed all the necessary safety procedures and had consulted the Coal Authority to ensure they were no old mine shafts under the property, the court heard.
Simon Reed, from the Coal Authority, said he was shocked by the case because it was not something he had ever experienced before.
Earlier evidence had ruled out the possibility the couple, pictured, had been poisoned from a faulty gas appliance in the house after checks found them all to be safe, except one fire which had not been used for some time.
Scott Johnson, an engineer from M&J Drilling, said the company's preliminary investigations had shown there to be no cause for concern.
Mr Johnson said carbon monoxide checks were not required from companies carrying out similar work.
