Accident verdict for Ikea bed death

Ikea suspended all sales of the bed after the incident

A coroner has recorded a verdict of accidental death on a nine-year-old girl who was found hanging from an Ikea bunk bed.

Oteas Tedder, from Hemel Hempstead, was found by her mother Sarah, caught in a child's harness that was hanging from the bed.

Ikea suspended all sales of the bed after the accident happened.

West Hertfordshire Coroner Edward Thomas said he would be writing to the company regarding the safety of the bed, particularly in relation to the top rail.

As a family we feel that others need to know what happened, so that no-one else has to go through this agony

Sarah Tedder

Mrs Tedder bought the "Lo bed" from Ikea last year the advertising for which told customers that it was "exciting to move up in the world and dream you are Tarzan sleeping in the tree tops".

The inquest at St Albans heard how Oteas, who had a four-year-old sister, arrived home from the cinema before going upstairs to get changed for bed.

Minutes later, her sister Otaya called up to her mother who rushed upstairs to find her eldest daughter hanging from the side of the bed.

The harness was a black toddler-walking type which Oteas and her sister used to play with.

Adjustable frame

Mrs Tedder, told the coroner: "I felt this dreadful sinking feeling.

"I got to the top of the stairs and saw her hanging by the bed."

Neighbours tried to revive her and an ambulance called but she was pronounced dead on arrival at hospital.

The idea behind the bed is that as the child gets older the bed is raised and the space underneath used for a desk and study area.

Accidental death

A rail runs from post to post which is about six feet off the ground.

When Sarah bought the bed she told the inquest it was described in the store as a "Tarzan bed" and a toy snake had been looped around the bar for toys to be hung on it.

Giles Speid of Brent Trading Standards Department was brought in to conduct a safety investigation into the piece of furniture.

He said that it had passed all safety regulations and held all safety certificates relating to bunkbeds and there had been no similar incidents with the bed.

The pathological evidence indicates that she died when she came down and caught her neck in the harness

Coroner

Recording a verdict of accidental death, Mr Thomas, said that he would be writing to IKEA to make them aware of the verdict.

"I am satisfied that this was an accident. The pathological evidence indicates that she died when she came down and caught her neck in the harness," he said.

After the inquest, Sarah Tedder said: "The pain has not lessened in the months that have gone by since Oteas died.

"Although her life with our family was cut so tragically short, we have many precious memories.

"We do not want Oteas' death to be for nothing - just another tragic accident involving a child which could have been avoided.

"As a family we feel that others need to know what happened, so that no-one else has to go through this agony."