Death of student, 18, from carbon monoxide poisoning at aristocrat’s holiday cottage was avoidable, sheriff has ruled

• CO poisoning death of Thomas Hill, 18, at Scottish cottage in 2015 was avoidable

A student’s death from carbon monoxide poisoning inside a holiday cottage owned by an aristocrat could have been avoided, a sheriff has ruled.

Thomas Hill, 18, was found unconscious behind a bathroom door at Glenmark Cottage, near Tarfside, Angus, Scotland where faulty gas heaters were later found.

He had been on holiday at the remote cottage, which was owned by the Earl of Dalhousie and his heir Lord Ramsay, with his partner Charlotte Beard and her family.

Mr Hill had gone to take a bath in October 2015 but was found dead an hour later.

A heater was discovered to have a crack in it which led to it producing carbon monoxide at dangerous levels.

Thomas Hill (pictured), 18, was found unconscious behind a bathroom door at Glenmark Cottage, near Tarfside, Angus, where faulty gas heaters were later found

The university student had been on holiday at the remote Glenmark Cottage (pictured) with his partner Charlotte Beard and her family

The cottage was owned at the time by the Earl of Dalhousie and his heir Lord Ramsay (pictured), who are part of the historic Ramsay clan which has roots as far back as 1140AD

Emergency services, estate workers and the Beard family tried to save Mr Hill but he was pronounced dead on his way to Ninewells Hospital in Dundee.

READ MORE: Fatal accident probe is launched into death of student, 18, from carbon monoxide poisoning caused by faulty gas heaters at aristocrat’s holiday cottage in Scotland

Burghill Farms and Piers Le Cheminant, who had sub-let the cottage, later admitted exposing holidaymakers to the risk of death.

Burghill Farms was fined £120,000 while Le Cheminant was ordered to pay £2,000 at Dundee Sheriff Court in October 2021.

A fatal accident inquiry at Forfar Sheriff Court has now ruled Mr Hill’s death could have been avoided.

Sheriff Paul Brown said the owners could have removed the heater from the bathroom and removed all mobile gas cabinet heaters from the cottage.

He added they could have installed a gas safety system to ensure an annual inspection of appliances by an expert could take place.

The sheriff also said written information could have been made to cottage guests to make them aware of what to do when a carbon monoxide alarm was activated.

The inquiry heard an alarm had sounded three times in the lead up to Mr Hill’s death.

The sheriff recommended local authorities should make it part of a licence to provide written information and guidance to guests if a monoxide alarm sounded.

And he ruled instruction manuals should be provided and the appliance should not be moved if a mobile gas heater is in the accommodation.

Mr Hill’s cause of death was confirmed as carbon monoxide poisoning.

A subsequent investigation revealed that there had been cracks in the heater and it was found to be producing carbon monoxide greatly in excess of safe levels.

Burghill Farms and Le Cheminant both admitted that between March 2008 and October 2015 they failed to ensure gas cabinet heaters were maintained in a safe condition to prevent the risk of injury to holiday residents.

They admitted the heaters were being used in rooms which were too small and not ventilated enough.

A fatal accident inquiry at Forfar Sheriff Court has now ruled Mr Hill’s death could have been avoided (Mr Hill pictured with girlfriend Charlotte Beard)

Sheriff Brown passed on his ‘deepest sympathies and condolences’ to the Hill family

In a written judgment, Sheriff Brown said: ‘Thomas Oliver Hill’s death resulted from a concatenation of missed opportunities.

‘The carbon monoxide alarm sounded three times and a total of eight holidaymakers heard it. Each moment represented a step in the chain when Mr Hill’s death might have been averted.

‘His death was a tragic example of the dangers of carbon monoxide in general and the dangers of mobile gas cabinet heaters in particular. There is a suite of advice and guidance publicly available in this regard.’

The sheriff added: ‘These heaters should never be placed in bathrooms or shower rooms where the water vapour and steam can compromise combustion.

‘They should be placed in rooms of sufficient volume with purpose provided ventilation.’

Sheriff Brown passed on his ‘deepest sympathies and condolences’ to the Hill family.

A spokesman for Burghill Farms said: ‘We express our heartfelt condolences again to Thomas Hill’s family and to the Beard family and hope the fatal accident inquiry and previous court proceedings have given them some comfort and answers.

‘On our part, we genuinely believed at the time of Thomas’ death, suitable gas safety measures were in place as the tenant who had taken responsibility for letting the cottage had arranged regular inspections by an engineer and this position is reflected in the inquiry’s determination.

‘At the time, we were unaware of certain aspects of complex gas safety regulations but had we been made aware that the engineer appointed to carry out the checks on the gas heaters at the cottage was not suitably qualified to undertake these particular checks, we would have taken alternative action. The sheriff accepted this in his findings.

‘We accept our share of responsibility for the omissions in the gas safety check system in place at the time which is a source of deepest regret.’

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