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| Baby inquest told of water fault | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A fault with a thermostat in a hot water system that caused a baby to be scalded to death could affect up to 3.5 million homes, an inquest has heard. | A fault with a thermostat in a hot water system that caused a baby to be scalded to death could affect up to 3.5 million homes, an inquest has heard. |
| Ten-month-old Rhianna Hardie was killed when boiling water cascaded over her cot at her council home in Taunton. | Ten-month-old Rhianna Hardie was killed when boiling water cascaded over her cot at her council home in Taunton. |
| Coroner Michael Rose told the hearing at Taunton Shire Hall that the problem could have national implications. | Coroner Michael Rose told the hearing at Taunton Shire Hall that the problem could have national implications. |
| "This is important not only for poor Rhianna, but it could affect as many as 3.5 million houses in the UK," he said. | "This is important not only for poor Rhianna, but it could affect as many as 3.5 million houses in the UK," he said. |
| He went on to say that there had only been one other fatality involving an immersion heater - in Penwith, Penzance in 2002. | He went on to say that there had only been one other fatality involving an immersion heater - in Penwith, Penzance in 2002. |
| 'Thermostat failed' | 'Thermostat failed' |
| Matthew Hardie and his partner, Charlie Haworth, were spending their first night in the house in Wellington Road with their two children when the accident happened in November 2006. | |
| The coroner said: "There's no dispute that the death was a direct consequence of a problem that occurred when the thermostat in the immersion heater failed. | The coroner said: "There's no dispute that the death was a direct consequence of a problem that occurred when the thermostat in the immersion heater failed. |
| "Boiling water overwhelmed the cold water tank which split and cascaded onto Rhianna who was asleep in the room below with her sister." | "Boiling water overwhelmed the cold water tank which split and cascaded onto Rhianna who was asleep in the room below with her sister." |
| Rhianna was taken to Musgrove Park Hospital for treatment but died three weeks later at Bristol Children's Hospital. | Rhianna was taken to Musgrove Park Hospital for treatment but died three weeks later at Bristol Children's Hospital. |
| The couple, both 22, now have a third child, Kadie, who is six weeks old. | The couple, both 22, now have a third child, Kadie, who is six weeks old. |
| Avon and Somerset Police, the Health and Safety Executive and Taunton Deane Borough Council launched investigations following the accident. | Avon and Somerset Police, the Health and Safety Executive and Taunton Deane Borough Council launched investigations following the accident. |
| The hearing is expected to last between three and four days. | The hearing is expected to last between three and four days. |