A toddler has become the third child to have allegedly been crushed to death by IKEA’s popular Malm drawers, sparking a fresh safety warning from the Swedish company.
A 22-month-old Ted McGee, of Philadelphia, died after he tipped the top heavy Malm chest on himself and was crushed, reports the Philadelphia Inquirer.
His mother Janet claims she had put her son in his bed for a nap and was checking on him every 20 minutes but was horrified to discover him out of bed and trapped under the furniture.
Following the incident IKEA claimed the six dresser drawer was not fitted to the wall.
An IKEA spokesperson said: “We at IKEA offer our deepest condolences to the McGee family.
“At IKEA, we believe children are the most important people in the world and the safety of our products is our highest priority.
“Upon being informed of this incident IKEA US immediately reported it to the authorities and an investigation is taking place.
“IKEA US has been advised that the product was not attached to the wall which is an integral part of the product’s assembly instructions.
In the US it is the third such tragedy in the past two years. In 2014 a two-year-old boy from Pennsylvania being killed after a Malm chest fell on him, that same year a 23-month-old child from Washington killed in when a three-drawer Malm chest tipped and crushed him.
No reported incidences have been recorded in Australia but parents everywhere are advised to heed safety warnings.
IKEA said: “We wish to emphasise that the best way to prevent tip-over of chests of drawers is to attach products to the wall with the included restraints and hardware per the assembly instructions.”
