Gasfitter Michael Cartwright Regrets Certifying Heater Before Jesse Samuel Death

Nearly eight years after 12-year-old Jesse Samuel died from carbon monoxide poisoning inside a portable shower unit at his family’s holiday home in Haast, a coronial inquest in Queenstown is examining how the tragedy unfolded and what safeguards failed. Coroner Mary-Anne Borrowdale opened the proceedings by describing the circumstances of the October 10, 2018, death as plainly unlawful, emphasizing that Jesse was a healthy and active boy who had his whole life ahead of him.

The inquiry has cast a harsh light on supervision failures within the trade industry. The gas water heater involved was installed by Gary Hale—a colleague of Cartwright’s at Laser Plumbing Alexandra who has since passed away—and formally signed off by Cartwright despite never seeing the physical work. An autopsy revealed that Jesse’s blood was 59% saturated with carbon monoxide after the unvented appliance filled the small, airtight bathroom space.

Michael Cartwright Apologizes and Admits Certification Failure

Taking the stand in the Queenstown District Court, Cartwright addressed the family directly, expressing profound regret over his actions. In 2021, Cartwright and Central Plumbing Limited—trading as Laser Plumbing Alexandra—pleaded guilty to charges laid under the Plumbers, Gasfitters and Drainlayers Act 2006. The court ordered them to pay more than $120,000 in total, comprising $70,000 to the family, a $19,250 fine for Cartwright, and a $104,500 fine for the company.

“There’s not a day that goes by that I don’t think about Jesse and what happened. I think about his family and how it’s affected them and I’m deeply sorry for my role.”

Michael Cartwright, gasfitter

Cartwright told the inquest that Hale had installed the Bosch unit before he even knew about it, noting that such portable appliance installations were unusual for a company that typically focused on in-situ housing.

Family Testimony and the Timeline of the Haast Holiday Home Bathroom

Jesse’s mother, Justine Walker, told the court that she would never view her son’s death as a mere accident because it was entirely preventable. Reflecting on the long wait for answers, she explained that the inquest would not give her son his life back, but she hoped it would deliver accountability and spur vital industry reforms.

The portable shower block had a complicated history at the family property. After initial installation near Alexandra during home renovations, the unit was moved to the Haast bach. In 2017, winter freezing damaged the pipework, prompting a replacement in September 2018 with the exact same Bosch model. Jesse died one month later.

Expert Analysis Points to Regulatory Gaps and Infrequent Gas Work

Gasfitting expert David Whitfield delivered damning technical testimony during the hearings, characterizing Cartwright’s decision to sign off on unseen work as a rudimentary error. Whitfield pointed out clear warning labels on the front of the Bosch unit explicitly stating it was unsuited for indoor bathrooms, warnings that went unheeded alongside the improper use of a flue pipe for ventilation.