Tyla Wanstall, 26, found her mother and sister dead on her birthday Reproduction / Social Networks (Facebook)
Tyla Wanstall, 26, found the bodies of her mother, Leah Churchill, 50, and her sister, Brooke Wanstall, 17, when she arrived for work on February 27. When he entered the Meat ‘N’ Greet Snack Wagon, the van the family uses to prepare and sell hamburgers, in Whitstable, Kent, UK, he found the two already overturned lifeless. They were among balloons and other party favors, decorating the place to surprise him who had his birthday that day.
Authorities believe they died from carbon monoxide poisoning, which has yet to be confirmed. The gas is said to have leaked after the mother turned on a petrol generator to keep the two warm.
“Mom used that generator every day, but I don’t think she thought for a second how disastrous it would be to turn it on in the van,” Tyla said.
It is surprising to the young man that they were poisoned by “just breathing in the poisonous gas air a few times”.
“I had no idea how quickly carbon monoxide can kill. It’s enough to breathe in the contaminated area even a few times,” Tyla told British newspapers.
Leah Churchill, 50, and Brooke Wanstall, 17, mother and sister of Tyla Reproduction / Social Networks (Facebook)
“I hope that when people find out what happened, they will leave their homes and spend a few pounds buying a carbon monoxide (CO) leak detector to protect their families and loved ones.”
Tyla, who has a fourmonthold son, said he initially believed the family was trying to prank him.
He only became aware of the reality when he touched his mother and felt that she was “cold”. Then he understood “what had happened”.
“It’s heartbreaking to think that they spent their final moments putting a smile on my face,” she said.
He described Leah, his mother, who worked in hospitality, as “a kind woman who would do anything for anyone.” She is survived by two other sons: Ocean, 23, and Sonny, 12.