Teenager froze to death at Clobham Common after cannabis fight with father saw him thrown out home
Teenager, 19, froze to death at Surrey beauty spot after his father threw him out of the house because he had been smoking cannabis
- Lyndon Turner was kicked out of family home a day before his body was found
- His father had been furious after his involvement in a cannabis-fuelled car crash
- 19-year-old apprentice window fitter’s body was found in Chobham Common
- Woking Coroner’s Court confirmed the teenager died of significant hypothermia
The frozen body of a teenager was found in the car park of a commuter belt beauty spot just a day after he was thrown out of the family home over a bust-up over his cannabis use, an inquest has heard.
The body of Lyndon Turner, 19, was found in the leafy village of Chobham in Surrey on the afternoon of December 2, 2020.
The apprentice window fitter had taken a rest in Chobham Common, a popular Surrey nature reserve, after walking six miles from his sales executive father’s Ascot home following a furious row over drugs.
An inquest heard how the family feud stemmed from Turner’s involvement in a minor car crash a day earlier – which his father Graham believed had been caused by his son’s cannabis use.
The former Charters School pupil’s body was discovered by walkers in the park, who called 999 after finding Turner the following day at the Surrey beauty spot.
Despite the best efforts of paramedics, assistant coroner Karen Henderson confirmed Lyndon died of ‘significant hypothermia’.
She said: ‘I am satisfied he found himself in Chobham Common on the night of December 1, 2020, that he fell asleep during that period of time, and given the time of year it resulted in significant hypothermia which is directly causative of his death.’
Pictured is 19-year-old Lyndon Turner, who froze to death in a Surrey car park hours after a family feud over his drug use
‘Frequest’ cannabis user Lyndon was kicked out of the house by his father, sales executive Graham Turner (above), and told to stay with friends
Lyndon’s body was discovered by walkers who called 999 after finding his cold corpse in a car park, a day after he had been kicked out of his family’s Ascot home
Lyndon, who studied at Bracknell and Wokingham College, was involved in a minor car crash the day before his death – which his father Graham believed was a by-product of his son’s cannabis use.
Texts between Lyndon and his sisters show a strained relationship between son and father – particularly after the passing of his mother Sarah Turner three years ago.
Witnesses who found Lyndon’s body in Surrey called 999 and admitted they did not know the apprentice window fitter, but had seen him a few times in the same location.
A police cordon was set-up in a car park of Chobham Common, and a 17-year-old boy from Staines-upon-Thames was arrested and remains under investigation on suspicion of being concerned in the supply of a controlled substance.
Assistant coroner Karen Henderson read aloud evidence at a documentary inquest at Woking Coroner’s Court, including that of Lyndon’s dad, Graham.
Dr Henderson said: ‘He [Graham] explained on December 1, Lyndon returned home with damage to the front of the car having been involved in a minor road traffic collision and that he was believed to have been using cannabis.’
The court heard his father told him he was not welcome to stay at the house and thought he had friends who he could be with instead.
Tributes from friends and family poured in for the former Charters School, Sunningdale alumni whose body was discovered in Chobham Common, Surrey
Lyndon had been involved in a minor car crash the day before his death – which led his father Graham to believe the teenager had been using cannabis
Despite numerous enquiries, the inquest heard it was not possible to establish where Lyndon went between leaving his Ascot house six miles away and ending up in the common.
Dr Henderson told the court she had seen texts between Lyndon and his sister which indicated he was unhappy with the decision of his father and indicated the difficulties they had had.
Toxicology analysis did not provide any clear explanation of Lyndon’s death, but did show ‘frequent or chronic use of cannabis’, the inquest heard.
The pathologist’s report found hypothermia was an ‘active operating factor’ in his death.
Lyndon Turner’s body was found by startled witnesses in a car park in Chobham Common, Surrey (pictured)
The 19-year-old apprentice window fitter was confirmed to have died of ‘significant hypothermia’ at Woking Coroner’s Court
It is believed Lyndon walked six miles to the popular Surrey nature reserve after being kicked out of his father’s Ascot house
Summarising, Dr Henderson said: ‘I accept the cause of death provided by the pathologist to the court as ketoacidosis complicating hypothermia.
‘I am satisfied on the balance of probabilities that Lyndon was a regular user of cannabis.
‘There were some difficulties with his family circumstances and due to a recent car accident, and concerns of his father that he had been using cannabis, that he was asked not to remain at home.
‘Sadly, he did not choose to find somewhere else to live.
Sending her condolences to his family, Dr Henderson formally recorded Lyndon died by way of misadventure, the unexpected consequence of an act.
