A malfunctioning ottoman bed led to the tragic death of a 39-year-old British woman, Helen Davey, who became trapped and asphyxiated in her home in Seaham, according to a coroner’s report. The incident occurred in June when a defective piston in the gas-lift mechanism caused the bed to unexpectedly descend, pinning her neck against the side panel.
Coroner Jeremy Chipperfield stated that while leaning over the storage area of the bed, the mattress platform fell, leaving her unable to escape. He classified her death as accidental, attributed to positional asphyxia, after confirming one of the gas-lift pistons was faulty.
Helen Davey was remembered by her family as a fiercely loyal and independent mother of two. Her daughter, Elizabeth, discovered her mother in a distressing state after returning from a hair appointment, prompting immediate attempts to lift the bed and revive her. Paramedics arrived but unfortunately declared her dead at the scene.
In a significant warning, Chipperfield highlighted the potential hazards associated with gas-lift ottoman beds and urged for action to prevent similar incidents in the future. He addressed his concerns to the Secretary of State for Business and Trade as well as the Office for Product Safety and Standards. The report emphasized the need for vigilance regarding such furniture, noting that in 2022, 18 people in the UK died due to accidental suffocation or strangulation in beds.