Grandfather killed by leaking boiler at home

A Black Country grandfather was killed in his sleep as a faulty boiler leaked carbon monoxide into his house, an inquest heard.

Rattan Singh, a 73-year-old ex-factory worker, was found in the utility room of the family home in Stuart Road, Halesowen, by his wife Mohinder and son Daljeet.

His eldest son Gurjeet said he had been sleeping in the room since his heart bypass in 2000, initially not wanting to put his heart under strain by climbing the stairs.

A post mortem revealed he had suffered carbon monoxide poisoning. Blood tests also showed his wife and son Daljeet had low levels of the gas in their bodies. Robert Easterby, a specialist inspector with the Health and Safety Executive, lead the investigation into the death on April 26.

He said the flue was two metres longer than recommended, with joints to the extra parts causing a partial restriction. The ventilation system was also clogged with lint.

He said: "The boiler was generating a much higher level of carbon monoxide than it should have been."

Dudley coroner Robin Balmain recorded a verdict of accidental death.

After the inquest, Gurjeet, of Lawnswood Road, Harborne, Birmingham, said: "He was a much-loved man."