Couple found dead in makeshift cabin identified | The Woodsman Hut | Forums

A sobering reminder to stay safe, not sure if the couple built the cabin or not

A sister discovered her sibling and boyfriend dead inside a makeshift cabin after the couple fell asleep with a woodchip fire burning during a long weekend camping trip, police said.

The woman made the tragic discovery when she went to wake the Sydney couple who were sleeping in a shipping container at Kurrajong, on the outskirts of north-west Sydney on Monday morning.

Hawkesbury police Inspector Suzanne Rode-Sanders said there was no ventilation in the cabin and believed the pair, aged in their 30s, had died in a terrible accident.

"[It's a] horrific incident especially for one of the relatives to walk into," Inspector Rode-Sanders said.

Police said it was a tragic reminder of how careful people needed to be with open fires and electrical heating.

"It appears they had some kind of makeshift heater inside the cabin and there wasn't any ventilation and as a result they may have asphyxiated carbon monoxide poisoning," she said.

Police say the couple had been together for a few years but didn't believe they had children.

"Our thoughts go out to the family, it's very very tragic."

It is understood the family were camping on the rural property for the long weekend, and were sleeping in three steel shipping containers which had been converted into cabin styled accommodation.

The deceased woman's sister, her partner and two children are believed to have been sleeping in one of the other steel containers close by.

"[The family] are quite devastated...very, very emotional and upset."

Inspector Rode-Sanders said their deaths were a tragic and hoped others would be prevented.

"It's a tragic situation. I just think that we always have to be mindful that when there is any sort of open fire it creates fumes and we need to have ventilation."

Police have set up a crime scene and forensic police will examine the area.

Stephen Bellamy, who has lived in Kurrajong for 30 years, said there were a couple of cabins in bushland where the police had gathered.

He said he was shocked to hear of the deaths, possibly by carbon monoxide poisoning.

"I always tell people, whatever you do, if you have anything going in the house, always leave a window or a door open where you are. It may be a bit chilly but ... it's dangerous," he said.

"That's a terrible thing to happen.

"[I'm] rather shocked up here, because it's such a simple thing that can happen."

http://www.stuff.co.nz/world/australia/69189783/fire-kills-camping-couple-in-kurrajong-shipping-container-cabin