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Government blamed over baby death Government blamed over baby death
(30 minutes later)
An inquest jury has blamed government failures after the death of a baby who was scalded when a water tank burst above her cot. An inquest jury has blamed government failures for the death of a baby who was scalded when a water tank burst above her cot.
Rhianna Hardy, aged 10 months, received 95% burns in the accident at her home in Taunton, Somerset, in November 2006. Rhianna Hardie, aged 10 months, received 95% burns at her home in Taunton, Somerset, in November 2006.
Faults in the type of water tank which exploded, killing Rhianna, were not passed on by the authorities following a previous incident, the inquest heard. Faults in the type of heating system were not passed on by the authorities after a similar death, the jury heard.
Sharon Minster, 30, was killed when a tank burst in Penwith six years ago. Coroner Michael Rose said "virtually every householder" in the UK should check their thermostats.
Coroner Michael Rose, sitting in Taunton, said: "The scalding was a result of a thermostat failure. Sharon Minster, 30, was killed in a similar manner when a tank burst above her bed in Penwith, Cornwall, six years ago.
"The tragedy would not have occurred if the full implications of a similar incident at Penwith in 2002 had been drawn to the attention of landlords by the relevant authority and steps taken to insure that the water systems complied with current British standards." Rhianna's parents, Matthew Hardie and Charlene Haworth, said their daughter's death was "completely avoidable" and an "accident waiting to happen".
The tank above Rhianna's bed burst after the thermostat broke, leaving the water to boil continuously and venting it into a cold water storage tank. Mr Rose, sitting in Taunton, said: "The scalding was a result of a thermostat failure.
That tank, which was made of plastic, melted and exploded over Rhianna's cot. "The tragedy would not have occurred if the full implications of a similar incident at Penwith in 2002 had been drawn to the attention of landlords by the relevant authority and steps taken to ensure that the water systems complied with current standards."
How the death happened
He added that he would be writing to the government to ensure a line of communication was opened with councils and housing associations.
A health and safety inspector told the inquest that he had notified the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister of the tank fault after the Ms Minster's death in 2002.
The warning was not passed on to local authorities.
The tank above Rhianna's bed burst after the thermostat failed, leaving the water to boil continuously and venting it into a cold water storage tank.
That tank, which was made of plastic, melted and exploded over Rhianna's cot, the inquest heard. Part of the tank was not supported.
Mr Rose added: "If this incident gets the publicity that it appears to be receiving, virtually every householder in the UK should look at their thermostat and if it doesn't comply with current British standards, replace it as a matter of urgency."