Tragic Accident: British Woman Killed by Malfunctioning Ottoman Bed, Coroner Reports

Tragic Accident: British Woman Killed by Malfunctioning Ottoman Bed

A tragic accident has claimed the life of 39-year-old Helen Davey, a British woman from northeastern England, who died when a malfunctioning ottoman bed fell on her neck, leading to asphyxiation. The incident occurred in June while she was leaning over the storage area of her gas-lift ottoman bed, which is commonly used for hidden storage.

According to coroner Jeremy Chipperfield, the mattress platform unexpectedly collapsed due to a defective gas-lift piston, trapping Davey’s neck against the bed’s frame. She was discovered by her daughter, Elizabeth, who recounted the harrowing moment in court.

Elizabeth found her mother lying with her head beneath the bed, legs bent as if attempting to rise. In a desperate effort, she tried to lift the heavy bed, which had lost its soft-close mechanism.

Despite Elizabeth’s attempts at CPR, Davey was unresponsive and not breathing. The coroner expressed concern about the potential risks posed by faulty gas-lift mechanisms in ottoman beds, urging the government to take preventive measures to avoid similar tragedies in the future. Under UK law, coroners are obligated to report such concerns to relevant authorities to protect public safety.

Tragic Accident: British Woman Killed by Malfunctioning Ottoman Bed, Coroner Reports