Ottoman bed ‘lethal’ as woman killed: coroner issues safety advice
The death of an unnamed lady caused by a gas-lift ottoman bed in Seaham, County Durham have shed light on the dangers that come with this free-type bedroom furniture. In June, Helen Davey suffocated to death after being trapped under her bed-aged 39 and mother of two. Its violent death caused the coroner to issue a warning over safety.
The sad tale of the Gas-Lift Ottoman Bed
Helen Davey, who ran a beauty business from her house in Hartle pool. The mattress platform of an ottoman storage bed, from which the generous queen slid down to access items in a wrapping paper closet box, suddenly dropped on her June 7. Her neck was sandwiched between the upper panel of the base and this weighty end portion, effectively leading to her death by asphyxiation.
Davey was unable to extricate herself because the inquest heard one of two gas-lift pistons which raised the bed had failed.
Emergency Response & Daughter’s Discovery
In the meantime, Helen’s 19-year-old daughter Elizabeth went to check on her in their bedroom. Elizabeth, whose statement was read out during the inquest taking place at Crook coroners court, told how she found him dead.
“Upstairs; in the bedroom…the door wide open. I found her on the ground, lying flat on her back with head underneath bed. Her legs were bent and she looked to be in the process of standing up So I attempted to elevate the bed head gently and it was too heavy. With my foot, I managed to prop it up and get her out, but when she came around the blue face was clearly evident with obvious finger marks on her neck worden.”
Elizabeth performed CPR on her and was unsuccessful in bringing her mother back to life. Helen was sadly declared dead after paramedics arrived.
Inquest: Safety Alert After Ottoman Beds
An inquest into Helen’s death found she died of positional asphyxia when the bed’s faulty piston raised it to its maximum position. Writing a Prevention of Future Deaths (PFD) report, Senior Coroner Jeremy Chipperfield said he was so concerned about the dangers to gas-lift beds which do not work that he issued a formal warning letter to both business secretary and Office for Product Safety and Standards in the UK.
Proper preventative action must be taken,’ Chipperfield said, ‘or other deaths from defective gas-piston mechanisms in these beds are inevitable.
A family devastated, and a tribute to the emotional landscape
For Helen’s offspring – Elizabeth, 19 and George, who will have turned exactly the same age on Halloween – their mother being gone is still too raw. A few days after the accident, Elizabeth wrote a beautiful tribute on Facebook:
No words could describe how we feel. I can’t believe it’s real. I keep hoping you will walk through the door. Let him shine and through with his personal best friend from day one, mine and George’s. Wish we had more time together x You know i love you so much. Goodbye, my angel until next time.
Quick Call to Realize Security Measures
The chair’s manufacturer, Vinsetto has issued a statement reminding the importance of regular checks on furniture with gas-lift mechanisms. The coroner has issued a public clearance by the state, and ottoman bed suppliers must ensure greater safety measures are in place to avoid further incidents of tragedy.
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