Mother's carbon monoxide campaign after teen deaths

1 hour ago

Hayley CoyleYorkshire

News image — Devon Andrews, pictured with her daughter Cherish and her daughter's boyfriend, Ethan Slater, says "the law needs to be more specific"

Devon Andrews Three people sit close together outdoors in the evening, facing the camera for a selfie. A tree trunk is directly behind them, and a multi-story building with balconies and lit windows appears in the background. Streetlights and signage glow softly as the sky turns dusky blue. The three individuals are positioned shoulder-to-shoulder, with one slightly in front holding the camera, and the other two seated beside them. — Devon Andrews, pictured with her daughter Cherish and her daughter's boyfriend, Ethan Slater, says "the law needs to be more specific"

The mother of a teenage girl who died from suspected carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning is calling for tougher regulation of CO monitors in holiday lets.

Cherish Bean, 15, and her boyfriend Ethan Slater, 17, both from Sheffield, died during a family holiday at Little Eden Holiday Park, near Bridlington, in February.

An inquest held earlier this year has not yet delivered a conclusion, but the coroner said there was reason to suspect the deaths were due to "carbon monoxide poisoning". Humberside Police said four people had been bailed as part of the investigation.

Devon Andrews said: "If I can save just one child - imagine I saved a life in Cherish's and Ethan's name - it would be worth it."

Cherish and Ethan had been on holiday with Cherish's family and had all spent the evening together the night before they died.

Cherish had left the main family lodge before 21:00 GMT for a neighbouring smaller cabin, where she was staying with Ethan, but returned 10 minutes later complaining of a headache, Hull Coroner's Court previously heard.

Her mother gave her some medication and Cherish later went back to her cabin where she texted her mother saying "goodnight, love you" before going to bed.

Family handout The picture shows Cherish Bean and Ethan Slater smiling at the camera. Cherish Bean on the left has brown, long hair, and Ethan Slater on the right has short brown hair. — Cherish and Ethan Slater were childhood sweethearts, said her mother

The next morning, Andrews discovered them unresponsive and called emergency services.

She has now started a petition calling for greater public awareness about whether existing regulations and safety requirements go far enough to protect holidaymakers.

Andrews said: "The law needs to be more specific and more regulated.

"Every single building in the UK should have a carbon monoxide monitor.

"Why, in 2026, is a mum coming home from a holiday without her child."

Her petition calls for all holiday accommodation to "install and maintain working carbon monoxide alarms, with mandatory regular safety checks and proper enforcement".

Devon Andrews Cherish and Ethan stand under an umbrella. — Cherish and Ethan were like "peas in a pod", says her mother

It has almost 8,000 signatures, with Andrews vowing to "walk the length of the country" to help it hit the 100,000 target needed for a debate in parliament.

Andrews has also set up the Cherish and Ethan Forever Foundation to raise awareness about the "silent killer" - so called because you cannot smell, see or taste it.

The 32-year-old, who is also mum to Harmony, 10, and Arlo, two, said she wanted families and children to be aware of its symptoms and dangers.

Andrews said Cherish and Ethan were "inseparable" and like "peas in a pod".

She added: "They did everything together...this cannot be the end of Cherish and Ethan's story."

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