A coroner has issued a stark warning to government ministers about the deadly risks of ottoman beds after a British mother, Helen Davey, tragically suffocated when she became trapped under one. The 39-year-old, from Seaham, County Durham, died on June 7, despite her 19-year-old daughter Elizabeth’s attempts to save her. Helen had been leaning over the bed’s storage area when the mattress platform suddenly collapsed on her, trapping her between the mattress and the base, as reported by the BBC.
Jeremy Chipperfield, the senior coroner for Durham and Darlington, revealed that the gas-lift mechanism of the ottoman bed unexpectedly failed, pinning Helen on her back with her head beneath the bed, making it impossible for her to free herself. Chipperfield has now called for urgent government action to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
Elizabeth discovered her mother trapped under the bed and tried desperately to lift it. In her court testimony, she explained that although the bed was very heavy, she eventually managed to lift it and performed CPR while calling emergency services. However, paramedics could not save Helen, who was the mother of an 11-year-old boy named George. Her death was ruled accidental, with the cause listed as “positional asphyxia.”
Police later found that one of the two gas pistons, designed to help lift the ottoman bed, was faulty, prompting the coroner to call on officials to address the danger. Chipperfield highlighted “matters of concern” in a report to Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds and the Office for Product Safety and Standards, stating that Helen had been trapped when the mattress platform suddenly descended, leading to her death. He emphasized the need for action to prevent future deaths.
UK coroners can issue Prevention of Future Deaths (PFD) reports if they believe steps can be taken to avoid similar fatalities. Helen was remembered by her father as a “strong, independent” person, while her daughter Elizabeth paid tribute to her on Facebook, calling her and George’s “best friend.”
GIE Furniture, a wholesaler, explains that gas-lift beds use two gas pistons to assist in lifting and lowering the bed. These pistons help prevent injury by keeping the bed and mattress stable when moved.