Beautician Helen Davey, 39, tragically dies after being trapped by a faulty Ottoman bed. Coroner warns of safety risks
Tragic Accident Claims
Life of Beautician Mother as Faulty Ottoman Bed Collapses
Seaham, County Durham –
In a heartbreaking incident that has left a community in shock, Helen Davey, a
39-year-old mother of two and successful businesswoman, tragically lost her
life after a faulty Ottoman bed collapsed on her, causing fatal injuries. The
freak accident, which occurred at her home in Seaham, County Durham, has
prompted a coroner to issue warnings about the safety of gas-lift beds,
bringing attention to the potential dangers of these popular bedroom
furnishings.
Helen, a well-loved
figure in her community who ran a beauty business called All Dolled Up, was
found unresponsive by her 19-year-old daughter, Elizabeth (known as Betty),
upon returning home on the evening of June 7. The coroner’s report indicated
that a defective gas piston, responsible for holding up the bed’s mattress, had
failed, causing the heavy platform to descend suddenly, trapping Helen’s neck
between the mattress and the base of the bed. The inquest ruled that she had
died from positional asphyxia, having been unable to free herself from the bed’s
crushing weight.
The family is no
stranger to tragedy. Helen's brother, Luke Davey, died in a moped crash at the
age of 16 in 2011, a devastating loss that Helen and her family had already
endured. Now, with her untimely passing, her two children, Betty and
11-year-old George, are left to cope with the overwhelming grief of losing
their mother.
In the wake of this
tragedy, Betty shared her feelings on social media, expressing the deep sorrow
she and her younger brother are struggling to process. "No words would
ever describe how we are feeling," she wrote in a moving Facebook tribute.
"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."
The inquest, overseen
by senior coroner Jeremy Chipperfield, revealed that the failure of one of the
gas pistons in the Ottoman-style bed was to blame for Helen’s death. The
gas-lift mechanism, commonly used in these types of beds to allow access to
storage space beneath the mattress, malfunctioned and descended without
warning, trapping Helen. The coroner has since raised concerns about the safety
of such beds and has called for government action to prevent further tragedies.
In his report,
Chipperfield stated: "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. Unable to free herself, she died of positional asphyxia."
He emphasized the
urgency of addressing the potential risks posed by faulty gas pistons in such
bed mechanisms and has formally written to the Office for Product Standards at
the Department for Business and Trade, urging action to ensure that these
products do not continue to pose a danger to the public.
The tragic accident has
sparked conversations about the regulation and safety of gas-lift beds, which
are a common feature in many modern homes. While convenient for storage, the
risks of mechanical failure in these beds have now been starkly highlighted.
Neighbours were left
stunned by the incident, with one resident describing the eerie quiet of the
evening suddenly interrupted by the arrival of police and emergency services.
"We had CID ask us questions, they were asking if there was anything
suspicious. They told us there had been an accident and Helen had been caught
in a position where she couldn't breathe," said one neighbor. "I
heard a rumor that an Ottoman bed had come down on her. It mustn't have been
working properly because they spring up and down. It's a tragedy."
Helen’s passing has not
only devastated her family but also shocked the local community, many of whom
knew her as a warm and caring individual dedicated to her beauty business. Her
tragic and untimely death has left friends and family grappling with how such a
seemingly ordinary piece of furniture could lead to such a catastrophic
outcome.
This devastating loss
comes more than a decade after the family experienced another heartbreaking
tragedy with the death of Helen’s brother, Luke. He died in a crash when his
moped collided with a telegraph pole in 2011, just 16 years old. For the Davey
family, the second major loss within their close-knit circle has reopened
wounds that had only begun to heal.
As authorities investigate
the specifics of the incident and the failure of the gas piston mechanism,
Helen's death serves as a sobering reminder of the potential risks hidden in
everyday items. The coroner's call for a review of safety standards for
gas-lift beds underscores the need for tighter regulations and thorough product
checks to prevent such accidents in the future.
Helen’s children, Betty
and George, are now facing a future without their beloved mother, but their
community continues to rally around them, offering support in the wake of this
unimaginable tragedy.
Coroner Issues Safety
Warning After Fatal Bed Collapse Kills Beautician Mother
Seaham, County Durham –
June 7, 2024
The tragic death of
Helen Davey, a 39-year-old beautician and mother of two, has prompted an
official safety warning regarding faulty gas-lift beds, following an inquest
that concluded she was killed in a freak accident involving the furniture at
her home in Seaham, County Durham. Helen, known for her successful beauty
business, All Dolled Up, suffocated after the mattress of her Ottoman bed
collapsed unexpectedly, trapping her between the bed’s base and its heavy
mattress platform.
The incident occurred on
June 7, when Helen’s daughter, Betty, 19, discovered her mother unresponsive
upon returning home that evening. The inquest revealed that a defective gas
piston, designed to raise and support the bed’s mattress, failed, causing the
platform to collapse and pin Helen by the neck. Unable to free herself, she
tragically died from positional asphyxia.
The coroner overseeing
the inquest, Jeremy Chipperfield, has since issued a formal warning to the
Department for Business and Trade, urging them to investigate the safety of
gas-lift bed mechanisms. Chipperfield highlighted the potential for similar
tragedies, stating that the bed’s faulty mechanism posed a significant risk to
public safety. He has called for immediate action to prevent further deaths
from occurring as a result of such defects.
As the investigation
continues, Helen’s family and friends are left to mourn the loss of a devoted
mother and vibrant business owner.
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