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Inquest opens over boy killed by suspected gas poisoning during floods Inquest opens over boy killed by suspected gas poisoning during floods
(35 minutes later)
The tearful mother of a seven-year-old boy believed to have died from toxic gas poisoning during severe winter flooding in Surrey has told an inquest that her son “walked in truth, and we are here to make sure he dies in truth”.The tearful mother of a seven-year-old boy believed to have died from toxic gas poisoning during severe winter flooding in Surrey has told an inquest that her son “walked in truth, and we are here to make sure he dies in truth”.
Zane Gbangbola was found in bed and not breathing after the family’s Chertsey home was flooded during some of the worst winter storms in years in February 2014. Zane Gbangbola was found in bed and not breathing after the family’s Chertsey home was flooded during some of the worst winter storms in years in February 2014. An inquest at Woking coroner’s court heard there were two competing theories over how he died.
An inquest at Woking coroner’s court heard there were two competing theories over how the popular schoolboy died. His family believe he may have been killed by deadly hydrogen cyanide gas in floodwater that seeped into the house from a nearby lake, which was a former landfill site. The other is that he may have died from carbon monoxide poisoning.
His family believe he may have been killed by deadly hydrogen cyanide gas in floodwater which seeped into the house from a nearby lake which was a former landfill site. The other is that he may have died from carbon monoxide poisoning. His father, Kye Gbangbola, 50, remains a paraplegic, paralysed from the waist down and in a wheelchair, following the flood.
His father, Kye Gbangbola, 50, remains a paraplegic, paralysed from the waist down and in a wheelchair, following the flooding incident.
Related: Parents' fight for justice after seven-year-old son dies in winter floodsRelated: Parents' fight for justice after seven-year-old son dies in winter floods
Opening evidence in the long-awaited inquest, coroner Richard Travers said: “It is likely that the fact Zane died as a result of toxicity will not be in contention. The question may well be which toxic substance was responsible. It may be that is a more contentious issue.” He added the question would likely be “whether it was as a result of carbon monoxide poisoning or hydrogen cyanide poisoning”. Opening evidence in the long-awaited inquest, the coroner Richard Travers said: “It is likely that the fact Zane died as a result of toxicity will not be in contention. The question may well be which toxic substance was responsible. It may be that is a more contentious issue.” He said the question would likely be “whether it was as a result of carbon monoxide poisoning or hydrogen cyanide poisoning”.
Giving evidence, Zane’s mother, Nicole Lawler, 39 – wearing a red fabric poppy which has become the symbol of his parents’ campaign for a full debate into his death – told the inquest that her son was “a gift that kept on giving”. Zane’s mother, Nicole Lawler, 39, wearing a red fabric poppy that has become a symbol of his parents’ campaign for a full debate into his death, told the inquest that her son was “a gift that kept on giving”.
Wiping away tears she described him as generous and kind, and said that she and his father had cherished every moment they spent with him. He had “all the ingredients of a perfect child”, she said. She described him as generous and kind, and said that she and his father had cherished every moment they had spent with him. He had all the ingredients of a perfect child, she said.
The family’s Victorian home at Thameside, Chertsey, Surrey, had a soil flood basement which was partially flooded and Zane’s parents had addressed the problem “with a number of electric pumps”, said the coroner. On 6 February 2014, they had hired a petrol-driven pump. The family’s Victorian home at Thameside in Surrey, had a basement that was partially flooded, and Zane’s parents had addressed the problem “with a number of electric pumps”, said the coroner. On 6 February 2014 they hired a petrol-driven pump.
On Friday 7 February 2014, Zane had gone to school as normal and was well, the coroner said. That evening, he stayed up to watch television with his mother and fell asleep and was taken to bed. On 7 February 2014, Zane went to school as normal and was well, the coroner said. That evening he stayed up to watch television with his mother and fell asleep and was taken to bed.
“His mother checked on him through the night. At 3.30am on February 8 she found that he was not breathing.” She telephoned an ambulance and she attempted to resuscitate him following instructions. Zane was taken by ambulance to hospital “where tragically his death was pronounced”. “His mother checked on him through the night. At 3.30am on 8 February she found that he was not breathing,” the coroner said. Lawler telephoned an ambulance and she attempted to resuscitate him following instructions. Zane was taken by ambulance to hospital “where tragically his death was pronounced”.
Zane’s parents were found to be unwell at the same time. His mother has made a full recovery.Zane’s parents were found to be unwell at the same time. His mother has made a full recovery.
The inquest is expected to last six weeks and hear from 78 witnesses.The inquest is expected to last six weeks and hear from 78 witnesses.
Cabinet Office documents, relating to a Cobra meeting held at the time of the flooding, have yet to be tracked down despite requests from Zane’s family and the coroner. Travers said he was “struggling “ to obtain the information about who could release the documents. Leslie Thomas QC, acting for the family, said: “It is a little surprising that it can’t be tracked down, even if it is to say you are not entitled to it.” Cabinet Office documents relating to a Cobra meeting held at the time of the flooding have yet to be tracked down despite requests from Zane’s family and the coroner. Travers said he was struggling to obtain information about who could release the documents. Leslie Thomas QC, acting for the family, said: “It is a little surprising that it can’t be tracked down, even if it is to say you are not entitled to it.”
The public gallery was packed with people wearing the red fabric poppy who had come to support Zane’s parents. The public gallery was packed with people who had come to support Zane’s parents, wearing the red fabric poppy.
The couple, both company directors, have been forced to crowd-fund to pay for legal representation at the inquest, after twice being refused legal aid despite support from the coroner for their application. One anonymous donor contributed £25,000 on Friday bringing the amount to just £3,000 short of the £75,000 required. More than 30,000 people have signed a petition calling for an investigation and public debate into Zane’s death. The couple have been forced to crowdfund to pay for legal representation at the inquest, after twice being refused legal aid despite support from the coroner for their application. One anonymous donor contributed £25,000 on Friday, bringing the amount raised to £3,000 short of the £75,000 required. More than 30,000 people have signed a petition calling for an investigation and public debate into Zane’s death.