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A mother of two has died after her ottoman bed fell on her head, suffocating her.

Helen Davey, 39, was killed as she was leaning over the bed’s shelf when the mattress unexpectedly fell, falling on her head and leaving her trapped between the base and mattress.

The beautician was later found by her 19-year-old daughter at her home in Seaham, County Durham, on June 7.

After an inquest into her death, which found one of the gas pistons used to raise the mattress was defective, a coroner warned there was a risk of further deaths if action was not taken to address potentially defective beds.

A letter to the Minister for Trade and Business, the Office for Product Safety and Standards and the Department for Business and Trade’s chief coroner, Jeremy Chipperfield, said: “During the investigation, the evidence revealed matters of concern. “

“In my opinion there is a risk that deaths could occur in the future if action is not taken. In these circumstances, it is my legal duty to report to you.

“The concerns are as follows: The existence and use of gas piston bed mechanisms, the failure of which poses a threat to life.”

In his report, he explained the manner of Ms. Davey’s death, writing: “The deceased was leaning over the shelf of an Ottoman-style ‘gas lift bed’ when the mattress platform unexpectedly sank downwards, trapping her neck on the upper side of the side panel of the bed frame.

“Unable to free herself, she died of positional asphyxia. One of the two gas lift pistons was defective.”

Ottoman beds are pieces of furniture that combine bed and storage solution. They have a lifting mechanism that allows access to under-bed storage.