Son left distraught after finding mum and teen sister dead inside his burger van

14 February 2023 , 21:47

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Leah and Brooke were found dead on Tuesday morning (Image: Facebook)

Tributes have been paid to a mum and her daughter after they were found dead in a burger van.

Leah Churchill, 50, and 17-year-old Brooke Wanstall were found in the vehicle on a road in Whitstable, Kent, on Tuesday morning.

Brooke's brother Tyla Wanstall told how he turned up at the Meat 'N' Greet snack truck to find them both.

It's understood the two suffered carbon monoxide poisoning from generator fumes while decorating the wagon for Tyla's 26th birthday.

"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," he said.

Heartbreaking tributes for mum and sister found dead by son in his burger van

Leah Churchill, 50 (M), and 17-year-old Brooke Wanstall (R) were reportedly found in the vehicle on a road in Whitstable (Facebook)

He told KentOnline how he opened the van door, initially thinking they were asleep.

"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."

The 26-year-old said he was "heartbroken" to think the mum and daughter duo had spent their final moments "trying to put a smile on my face".

Leah, from Canterbury, had two other children and had been helping Tyla with his takeaway van two days a week, he said.

His sister, he added, had just recently left school after finishing her GCSEs.

"She had her whole life in front of her," he said.

Tyla says he is 'heartbroken' after discovering mum Leah and sister Brooke dead in his burger van (Facebook)

"She did really well in her grades and had just started work as a carer, which she was really enjoying. She was also due to take her driving test next week."

Carbon monoxide killed 116 people in the UK in 2020, the most recent data from the ONS shows.

Tyla added: "Be aware of this thing, people. If you haven’t got a carbon monoxide alarm go and get one. It is a serious killer.

Grieving son shares "horrible memories" of mum and sister's burger van deaths

"I don’t know how we're ever going to get over this."

Files on Leah and Brooke's deaths are expected to be passed to the local coroner.

Susie Beever