A mother of two, Helen Davey, 39, tragically died in a freak accident after becoming trapped by a malfunctioning Ottoman bed at her home in County Durham, UK. The incident occurred on June 7 when the raised mattress platform of the bed suddenly slammed down, pinning her neck against the base, leaving her unable to free herself, according to the Daily Mail. An inquest attributed her death to positional asphyxia caused by the faulty gas-lift mechanism.
Durham and Darlington’s senior coroner, Jeremy Chipperfield, has issued a formal warning following the inquest, urging the Government to take action to prevent similar accidents. In his statement, Chipperfield said, “The deceased was leaning over the storage area of an Ottoman-styled ‘gas-lift bed’ when the mattress platform descended unexpectedly, trapping her neck against the upper surface of the side panel of the bed’s base.” He emphasized that without intervention, there is a risk of future deaths.
The coroner has alerted the Office for Product Safety and Standards and the Department for Business and Trade, urging them to address the dangers associated with malfunctioning gas-lift beds. “In my opinion, action should be taken to prevent future deaths, and I believe you have the power to take such action,” Chipperfield stated, as reported by ChronicleLive.
Helen Davey, who ran a beauty business called All Dolled Up from her home, was also the mother of a 19-year-old daughter, Elizabeth, and an 11-year-old son, George. In a heartbreaking tribute, her daughter expressed her grief, writing, “I can’t even begin to process that it’s real and you’re not just going to walk through the door. Mine and George’s best friend from day one… I hope you know how much I love you and that I’d do anything for one more cuddle. Until we meet again, my angel.”
This tragic incident occurred just weeks after another devastating accident in which a two-year-old boy died after a fireplace toppled over on him in Wigan, Greater Manchester. The boy suffered severe injuries and was pronounced dead shortly after being rushed to the hospital. His mother was reportedly at work at the time, leaving her daughter—legally old enough to supervise the boy—in charge. The accident has left the local community in mourning, as emergency services, including the North West Air Ambulance, responded to the scene.
Both incidents have prompted calls for greater safety measures to prevent such heartbreaking accidents in the future.