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

16 February 2023 , 08:13

501 0

The bodies of Leah Churchill and 17-year-old Brooke Wanstall were found by son Tyla Wanstall in his burger van

Tributes have been paid to a "glitter and pink-loving" mum and her teenage daughter "with the most beautiful smile" who were found dead by the son in a suspected carbon monoxide poisoning horror.

The bodies of Leah Churchill, 50, and 17-year-old Brooke Wanstall were found by son Tyla Wanstall in his burger van they were trying to decorate as a surprise for his 26th birthday on Tuesday morning.

Tyla found his mum and little sister on his birthday when he went to open his stationary Meat 'N' Greet food van at 8am.

It is understood the two suffered carbon monoxide poisoning from generator fumes.

Tyla previously said that he was "heartbroken" to think Leah and Brooke had spent their final moments "trying to put a smile on my face".

Missing radioactive capsule found after huge search - and it's the size of a pea

He said they may have started the petrol generator - which is stored inside the van at night for security reasons - to keep themselves warm while not realising the danger.

The family is now survived by Brooke's three siblings who were "all like best friends" - Tyla, his 23-year-old sister Ocean, and brother Sonny, who is 12 years old.

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

Leah Churchill, 50, and daughter Brooke Wanstall, 17, were found dead in a burger van on Tuesday (Facebook)

Tyla Wanstall, 26, said he was 'heartbroken' by their deaths (Facebook)

Danniella Ralfs, a long-time friend of the family, said mum-of-four Leah Churchill created a "brilliant, crazy home" where Christmas trees would be pink or hanging upside down, and everyone would always laugh and smile.

Leah loved DIY and would fix up the house with glittery homewares using her pink toolbox and pink tools.

Her daughter Brooke finished school with "amazing results" and very recently started her first job as a carer, which Danniella said she loved.

She explained that despite having a tough year last year, Brooke was "always so happy and had the most beautiful smile which she always kept on her face."

Tributes have poured in for Leah Churchill (Wanstall family / KMG / SWNS)

A family friend said Brooke had the 'most beautiful smile which she always kept on her face' (Facebook)

Brooke, Ocean and Sonny all lived at home in Whistable, Kent, and Tyla lived with his partner and baby TJ born October last year.

Danniella said she "didn't think they could be any happier" but TJ's birth turned the family's life around.

The burger van had been another recent addition, created by Tyla "from scratch", and the family reportedly all pitched-in to get it up and running in Autumn last year.

Nursery nurse Danniella had known the family since she was 11 and regularly visited the busy Kent home to hang out with school friend and Brooke's sister, Ocean.

Boy, 3, dies after being left in sweltering car in 34C heat 'throughout the day'

Tyla Wanstall’s burger van (KMG / SWNS)

She said: "They were just the kindest and purest souls, they would have done anything for anyone, and would never fail to make people laugh and smile.

"If you were feeling sad you could go to them and they would cheer you up.

"Leah was always buying new things for the house, as soon as she saw something sparkly, like a new dressing table, or a mirror that was glittery, she get it.

"If anything broke in the house, she would fix it, she had a pink toolbox and all the tools in it were pink.

Tyla Wanstall at his burger van with mum Leah and sister Brooke (Wanstall family / KMG / SWNS)

"The other day Sonny was playing with his virtual reality headset with his friends.

"Leah was upstairs and heard a smash, and he'd accidentally broken her new mirrored sparkly dressing table. He went upstairs and said, 'It's okay mum, you'll fix this, because you've been glittering everything'.

"She said that's true, and she just put glitter over it. She was just always so happy.

"It was a crazy place - but in a good way: everything was just brilliant. Most years there would be a pink Christmas tree, or an upside down Christmas tree that was hanging from the ceiling. It was different, but it was all so lovely.

Tyla said he does not know how the family will get over the tragedy (Wanstall family / KMG / SWNS)

"Leah was totally different, she didn't care what anyone would think.

"Brooke was just absolutely amazing, the most beautiful smile.

"She finished school and got amazing results, she had literally just started a new care job which she loved.

"She was literally best friends with Ocean. They were all best friends.

"Tyla's son, Leah's grandson, was due in December but born quite a bit premature. This new baby had just come into the family and turned their life around as well.

"I didn't think they could be any happier, but they just absolutely adored him.

The pair are believed suffered accidental carbon monoxide poisoning from generator fumes inside the The Meat N Greet Snack Wagon (SWNS)

"Just talking to them makes me feel a lot better.

"Everyone's gathering around to do the balloon release later on, which will be lovely, and that's all going to be pink and sparkly balloons - because that's what they were into, they loved things like that.

"They were very popular."

She explained everyone knew where Meat 'N' Greet was and it was the place people visited for lovely food.

Tributes for the two victims have poured in on social media.

Former school friend of Brooke, Abbie Rose, wrote: "I'm so broke. I'm so glad I met you Brooke.

"Will treasure our memories in Year 7/8. You had the most kind and beautiful soul. Fly high beautiful girl."

Floral tributes at the scene (SWNS)

Keller Clover added: "So heartbreaking. Brooke was an amazing and beautiful person inside and out.

"This is such a massive tragedy and my thoughts go out to the whole family at this devastating time. So broken for the family."

The mum and teenage daughter were feared to have suffered carbon monoxide poisoning from generator fumes.

Devastated son Tyla yesterday told how he arrived at his Meat 'N' Greet Snack Wagon to discover his mum and baby sister lifeless.

Tyla, of Faversham, Kent, spoke at the time of his family's devastation.

He said: "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.

"I didn't even know they were going down there last night but she must have started the petrol generator up to keep warm without realising the danger."

Gas canisters outside the Meat N Greet Snack Wagon (SWNS)

Tyla says the generator is used outside the van during working hours but kept inside overnight for security reasons.

He said he arrived at the wagon at about 8am to start work and was surprised to see his mum's car parked up outside.

"I opened the van door and and saw my mum and sister and for an instant thought they had fallen asleep," he recalled.

"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.

"It's heartbreaking to think they spent their last few moments just trying to put a smile on my face."

Mum of four Leah lived in Canterbury, Kent.

Tyla, who has just had a baby boy with his partner Beth, said of his mum: "She was so kind and would do anything for anyone.

"She would take a homeless man in off the streets if she was allowed. Brooke was just a live-wire with a huge personality.

"Mum worked all over the place, mostly in hospitality, and used to run the Share and Coulter pub in Greenhill.

"She was helping me in the burger van a couple of days a week."

Flowers left next to the sign for the Meat N Greet Snack Wagon (SWNS)

He said Brooke had just left Archbishop's School in Canterbury after completing her GCSEs, adding: "She had her whole life in front of her.

"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."

Brooke's sister, Ocean, added: "She tried working in the van a couple of times but that definitely wasn't for her.

"Working as a carer was what put the spring in her step and the only thing she wanted to do."