Heartbroken dad buried Seaham daughter, who died after being trapped in bed, with late son's ashes

A grieving father has spoken of the unbearable pain of losing both his children in separate tragic accidents. Robert Casson, 66, said there are "no words that cover" the loss of his daughter Helen Davey and son Luke Casson, who died in a moped crash 13 years earlier.

Helen, a 39 year old mother of two, suffocated after becoming trapped in her ottoman bed in a freak accident at her Seaham home. Her brother Luke, remembered as a popular Year 11 student, suffered a fatal brain injury when he collided with a telegraph pole.

Helen was found by her 19-year-old daughter Elizabeth and was later laid to rest next to her brother's ashes. In the aftermath of the tragedy, Mr Casson shared ahead of the funeral: "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."

Almost 13 years after the devastating loss of Luke, who died in a moped accident shortly after passing his provisional test, the Casson family was hit by the second tragedy. Helen was killed when a gas-lift piston on her ottoman bed malfunctioned, causing the frame to collapse on her, an inquest heard.

Elizabeth revealed the horrific details of her discovery at Crook Coroners' Court, saying: "I went upstairs, my mam's bedroom door was wide open, and I saw her lying on her back with her head under the bed. Her legs were bent as if she was trying to get up. I dropped everything that I was holding and tried to lift the top of the bed off her head. The bed was no longer a soft close and could fall heavily if it was released."

"It was so heavy for me to lift it up and try to pull her out. I managed to lift it up enough to use my foot to support it. I feared that she was dead as she made no sound. I started CPR and noticed that she wasn't breathing."

At the inquest, Helen was remembered by her father as being "very independent, a strong individual with strong opinions and fiercely loyal". Following the devastating events, Elizabeth took to Facebook to share the difficulties she and her brother faced in coming to terms with their loss.

In her emotional post, she wrote: "No words would ever describe how we are feeling,' she said. 'I can't even begin to process that it's real and you're 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."

Jeremy Chipperfield, the Senior Coroner for Durham, issued a stark warning to the Government about the potential for another fatality if nothing is done. He felt compelled to alert the Office for Product Standards under the Department for Business and Trade about "the existence and use of gas piston bed mechanisms whose failure presents risk to life".