Scalded woman's death 'accidental'

Ms Minister's house belonged to a housing association

A woman who was killed after a tank of boiling water burst in the room above her bed died accidentally, an inquest jury has ruled.

Sharon Minister, 30, was admitted to hospital with 45% burns after the accident at her home in Penmere Road, Penzance, on 29 May 2002, which was owned by the Penwith Housing Association.

Scalding water poured out of a water tank through a ceiling and on to her bed as she slept. She died from her injuries nine days later.

After the verdict, the Penwith Housing Association said it had cooperated with the inquiry and the police and was keen to reassure residents that their safety was paramount.

This tragic accident has highlighted faulty immersion heaters

Brian Walters,
Family solicitor

Ms Minister's partner, Mark Nicholas, 27, who was sleeping next to her at the time, survived the incident but suffered severe burns to his face and body and needed a skin graft to his foot.

The injured couple were both taken to Bristol's Frenchay Hospital, where Ms Minister died of septicaemia caused by scalding on 8 June.

Ms Minister's children Jessica, nine, and Victoria, six, were in the house at the time but were unharmed in the accident.

Tests carried out by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) later showed that a fault in the property's immersion heater had allowed the cold water tank to fill with scalding water.

The HSE said the tank was not supported properly on its base and a plastic shelf slumped on one side, pouring water into the room below.

Her parents told the hearing she had been complaining about water coming through the bedroom ceiling for months, but appointments made by contractors were missed.

They gave their reaction to the verdict in a statement through solicitor Brian Walters.

Civil proceedings

It said: "This tragic accident has highlighted faulty immersion heaters and correctly supporting water tanks in roof voids.

"Sharon has lost her life and her two young children have lose their mother.

"We intend to bring civil proceedings to establish where fault for her death lies."

A spokesman for the Penwith Housing Association said the organisation has sent its sympathy to the family.

He said: "For its part, the association has cooperated with the police and the Health and Safety Executive in their investigations leading up to the inquest.

"It has undertaken checks within its properties to reassure residents.

"The association is keen to move forward and reassure residents that their safety is paramount."