British Couple Killed in French Campervan Fire
An inquest heard that a heater sparked a blaze that killed David and Pamela Brack while they slept.
An elderly British couple died after a fire broke out in their campervan on a French campsite, an inquest has been told. David and Pamela Brack, both 81, perished in the blaze at the Huttopia Gorges du Verdon campsite in Castellane, in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence region, on September 5.
Their son, who was parked nearby, reportedly attempted to rescue them from the burning vehicle. A post-mortem examination conducted by Dr Sam Hoggard at Newcastle RVI mortuary provisionally attributed their deaths to the effects of the fire. The couple, formerly an electrical engineer and a hairdresser, were identified by dental records.
An investigation into the incident, reported by French newspaper La Provence, identified the van's heater as the cause of the fire. Antoine Pesme, Public Prosecutor of the Digne-les-Bains region, stated that the fire was considered purely accidental and the investigation has concluded.
The Foreign Office confirmed it is supporting the family of the British couple and is in contact with local authorities. The inquest into their deaths was opened at Miners Hall in Durham on Monday and has been adjourned until July 20, 2027.