A 39-year-old British woman tragically lost her life when a malfunctioning ottoman bed fell on her neck, leading to asphyxiation, according to a coroner’s report. Helen Davey, a resident of northeastern England who operated a beauty salon, passed away in June while leaning over the storage area of a gas-lift ottoman bed. Coroner Jeremy Chipperfield detailed the incident in a report released last week.
Ottoman beds, which feature a base that can be raised through gas-lift hydraulics to access hidden storage underneath, are often favored by homeowners looking to conceal bedding or out-of-season clothing.
Killed By Malfunctioning Ottoman Bed
The mattress platform of Davey’s bed fell unexpectedly, trapping her neck against the upper surface of the bed’s base, coroner Chipperfield explained. Unable to escape, she succumbed to positional asphyxia due to a defective gas-lift piston.
Davey was discovered by her daughter, Elizabeth, who recounted the harrowing scene in court, as reported by local publication The Northern Echo.
“I went upstairs and saw my mum lying on her back with her head under the bed,” Elizabeth testified. “Her legs were bent as if she was trying to get up. I dropped everything I was holding and attempted to lift the bed off her head. The bed had lost its soft close feature and could fall heavily if released, making it incredibly difficult for me to lift and pull her out.”
Elizabeth managed to elevate the bed enough to use her foot for support. “I noticed her face was blue, and there was a clear indent on her neck from the frame. I pulled her clear and feared she was dead, as she made no sound. I started CPR and realized she wasn’t breathing,” she said.
From Down Under Helen Davey: Heartbreak as mother-of-two is killed by her collapsing ottoman gas lift bed: Mother-of-two Helen Davey suffocated when she became trapped between the mattress and the bed base, tragically being discovered by her daughter. https://t.co/SuBsz3r8HN pic.twitter.com/TTWGIOyGhp
— Janie Johnson – America is Exceptional (@jjauthor) October 14, 2024
What Happened?
In his report, Coroner Jeremy Chipperfield determined that Helen Davey’s death was accidental, expressing concern over the risks posed by gas piston bed mechanisms. He noted that such mechanisms can be life-threatening if they fail, stating that future incidents similar to Davey’s could occur unless preventative measures are implemented.
Chipperfield urged the Department for Business and Trade to take action, emphasizing the need for regulatory changes to enhance safety. “In my opinion, action should be taken to prevent future deaths, and I believe you have the power to take such action,” he wrote.
🇬🇧WOMAN CRUSHED TO DEATH BY FAULTY OTTOMAN BED – CORONER DEMANDS ACTION!
— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) October 14, 2024
Helen Davey, 39, died after a defective Ottoman bed's mattress platform collapsed, trapping her neck.
A coroner revealed that a faulty gas-lift piston caused the accident at her Seaham home in June. She… pic.twitter.com/JZlJenHtpa
The report did not specify the manufacturer of the gas piston ottoman bed involved in the tragic incident. Following her mother’s death, Elizabeth shared her grief on Facebook, saying, “No words would ever describe how we are feeling. I can’t even begin to process that it’s real and you’re not just going to walk through the door,” according to The Guardian.
