Helen Davey, a 39-year-old British woman, was tragically killed when a defective piston in a gas-lift ottoman bed caused the bed to fall on her, trapping her neck and leading to asphyxiation. The incident occurred at her home in Seaham, England, in June. Davey’s daughter found her in this position after returning home from a hair appointment. Despite efforts by paramedics to revive her, she was declared dead at the scene.
Davey was described as a loving mother who was fiercely loyal and independent by her family members. The coroner ruled her death as accidental, noting that one of the gas-lift pistons in the bed was defective. Following the incident, the coroner issued a warning about the potential dangers of ottoman beds that use gas lifts and recommended action be taken to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
Ottoman beds have a platform that lifts the mattress to allow for storage underneath, but they can pose risks if not properly maintained. The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents reported that 18 people died in the United Kingdom in 2022 due to accidental suffocation or strangulation in bed. This tragic incident serves as a reminder of the importance of product safety and maintenance to prevent such accidents from happening.
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