A SCHOOLGIRL and her family died of carbon monoxide poisoning from a badly installed gas boiler, an inquest heard.

Emma Stone, 16, her father, Peter, 50, and mother, Joan, 47, were killed after gas leaked from the boiler at their Cumbrian home.

Firefighters tried desperately to resuscitate Emma, who was found slumped unconscious in her living room.

The fire brigade had been called by a man walking his dog who had become suspicious of the smoke alarm.

Cumbria Fire Brigade Watch Commander Steve Wilson told the inquest Emma was found lying in a diagonal position near the kitchen entrance and felt warm.

He said: "This gave us a false impression of a chance of her being alive."

Emma, and her parents - found on the kitchen floor - were pronounced dead by a doctor within minutes of being found last December.

The court heard Mr Stone, who was born in Leigh but moved to Crossfield Road, in Cleator Moor, had installed the gas boiler after the family became dissatisfied with another type of heating, which kept going out.

But the father did not have any gas-related qualifications.

David Bennison, a British Gas technical support officer, told the inquest in Whitehaven that the boiler needed servicing, and was producing high levels of carbon monoxide gas. There were various defects in the flue installation.

Recording an accident verdict, West Cumbria coroner John Taylor said gas and electrical equipment in the home should be properly installed and maintained.

He said: "It can be a question of life and death."

Det Supt Peter Ellis, of Greater Manchester Police, told the court that his brother-in-law Peter, had gained qualifications in electrical and electronic engineering.

Mr Stone had taken up employment with the UK Atomic Energy Authority at Risley, and was later transferred to Sellafield Nuclear Plant in Cumbria.

He had his early education in Leigh, and further education at Leigh and Warrington Technical Colleges.

Mrs Stone was originally from Atherton and married Mr Stone in 1972. She worked in catering in Cumbria up to the time of her death, and had lived with her husband and daughter at the Cleator Moor address for 11 years. Family die in boiler tragedy