Castlerock Gas Tragedy Probe Renewed

Health and Safety inspectors returned to the seaside village of Castlerock this morning to resume their investigation into the deaths of two young men from Newtownabbey who were found dead in a holiday flat by their parents.

Aaron Davidson was from Fernagh Road and Neil McFerran was from Kings Walk, both in Newtownabbey were discovered apparently asphyxiated by their respective fathers who told how they became worried on Tuesday evening when they couldn't get through to the A level students on the phone.

The pair had died in a holiday flat after a suspected carbon monoxide leak, while a third teenager, Matthew Gaw, survived.

Aaron's father, George, said the fathers drove down to the flat and got in through an open window and found their sons' bodies inside.

Mr Davidson said he and Neil's father decided to drive to Castlerock from their Newtownabbey homes after their sons were not answering their mobile phones.

They arrived at 8.20pm and tried to get into the flat to find the boys before they found an open bathroom window and Neil McFerran's father got inside.

"There was an awful, horrible smell. I showed him how to get to the front door and open it. We went in and Aaron was lying on the settee.

"Matthew was sitting on the other settee. Neil was in the kitchen, part-way in," he told the Belfast Telegraph.

He said the two men fought to save their sons, giving them mouth-to-mouth resuscitation, but it was too late.

"I was banging on the door and windows but getting no answer. I tried to force a window open but eventually had to smash the glass and then help Neil's dad to get in after covering up some of the broken glass.

"Matthew was able to talk a wee bit but didn't know where he was. It was terrible because no-one knew what had happened."

Mr Davidson said it was "heartbreaking" to find the boys in such a way.

(BMcC/GK)