Dad of woman killed by her ottoman bed also lost son, 16, in motorbike crash

The dad of a woman who died in a freak accident when her faulty Ottoman bed collapsed on top of her also lost his teenage son in a motorcycle accident.

Robert Casson, 66, told friends ‘there are no words that cover’ the double tragedy of losing Helen Davey, 39, 13 years after the death of Luke Casson, who was just 16.

Mum-of-two Helen died from asphyxia at her home in Seaham, County Durham, when she became trapped between the mattress and bed base while leaning over the storage area.

She was found by her daughter who tried to free her from the bed, which was able to be lifted using gas-powered pistons, one of which was defective.

Luke was a Year 11 student when he crashed his moped into a telegraph pole close to his home in Hutton Henry in May 2011, MailOnline reports.

Writing on Facebook ahead of Helen’s funeral, Mr Casson said: ‘Our hearts are broken as we bury our two beloved kids today.

‘Helen only 39 died 6 June 2024. Luke was 16 and died 21 May 2011. Both lost in tragic accidents and will be missed our whole lives.

‘Our love and thanks go out to everyone who has contacted us with messages, cards and flowers.

‘There are no words that cover it.’

Beautician Helen, mum to daughter Elizabeth, 19, and son George, 11, was described by her father at the inquest as ‘very independent, a strong individual with strong opinions and fiercely loyal’.

Posting a tribute to her mum on Facebook, Elizabeth described her as ‘mine and George’s best friend from day one’.

She added: ‘I can’t even begin to process that it’s real and your (sic) not just going to walk through the door.

‘Mine and George’s best friend from day one, I will always wish we had more time together and that you were still by our side supporting us through everything as always.

‘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.’

Following the inquest into her death, Senior Coroner Jeremy Chipperfield issued a prevention of future deaths report in which he expressed concern over ‘the existence and use of gas-piston bed mechanisms whose failure presents risk to life’.

He said: ‘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.

‘One of the two gas-lift pistons was defective.’

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