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| Baby inquest told of water fault | Baby inquest told of water fault |
| (30 minutes 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. |
| Matthew Hardie and his partner, Charlie Haworth, both 22, were spending their first night in the house in Wellington Road with their two children when the accident happened on 19 November 2006. | |
| We knew immediately that she was badly injured Matthew Hardie | |
| 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. |
| Her father said: "I awoke at around 2.30am although I didn't know then that that was the time. I heard a loud bashing bang and then heard Rhianna crying. | |
| "I ran upstairs. Luckily I was dressed. Charlie followed me. There was a load of water pouring through the ceiling and thick steam. She was very hot - soaked. | |
| "It looked horrific. We knew immediately that she was badly injured." | |
| John Williams, chief housing officer for Taunton Deane Borough Council, said that safety inspectors were not expected to examine attics of houses - where the immersion tank was - "because they don't have ladders". | |
| "It's never been considered necessary to do something like that because we've never had an incident like this before," he said. | |
| He agreed with the parents' barrister, Dr Michael Powers QC, that the safety checks in place were essentially "reactive". | |
| Bernard Thorogood, representing the local authority, explained that British Standards safety checks were not required on thermostats. | |
| The hearing continues. |