Mother and daughter killed in boat 'fumes' tragedy

A mother and daughter killed by suspected “gas poisoning” while on a boating holiday in the UK's Lake District have been named by police.

Cumbria Police confirmed today that the two people who died at Windermere yesterday were Kelly Webster, 36, and her 10-year-old daughter, Lauren Thornton, both from Leyland in Lancashire.

A police spokesman said: “Cumbria Police were alerted to Lake Windermere by the ambulance service after it was reported that three people on a privately-owned boat were having serious breathing difficulties.

“On arrival, Mrs Webster and her daughter, Lauren, were being treated by paramedics and were airlifted to Royal Lancaster Infirmary, where they tragically died.

“A man, 39, from Leyland, who was also on the boat, remains in Royal Lancaster Infirmary receiving treatment.”

The spokesman added: “Police are not treating the deaths as suspicious, and it is suspected that the deaths were caused by some form of gas poisoning. Inquiries continue to be conducted by officers on behalf of the coroner.”

The alarm was raised at around 4pm yesterday when police and an ambulance were called to the private boat.

The incident, at a jetty near Bowness, was witnessed by businessman and television personality Duncan Bannatyne, who remarked on the police and ambulance activity to his followers on Twitter.

The Dragons’ Den star later posted a photograph of the scene, saying: “Tragic accident over there I am afraid.”

My thoughts are with the 2 people who lost there lives on Windermere today. Very sad loss Goodnight & godbless.

— Duncan Bannatyne (@DuncanBannatyne) April 1, 2013

Other eyewitnesses reported seeing firefighters entering the boat wearing breathing masks.