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Baby scalding death council sued | Baby scalding death council sued |
(about 1 hour later) | |
The family of a 10-month-old baby who died when a water tank burst above her head in a council house is to take legal action against the authority. | The family of a 10-month-old baby who died when a water tank burst above her head in a council house is to take legal action against the authority. |
Rhianna Hardie received 95% burns at her home in Taunton in November 2006. | Rhianna Hardie received 95% burns at her home in Taunton in November 2006. |
Her family is now seeking compensation from Taunton Deane Council, which has passed the claim to its insurance company. | Her family is now seeking compensation from Taunton Deane Council, which has passed the claim to its insurance company. |
An inquest last week heard the death had been caused by a faulty thermostat in the house's immersion heater. | An inquest last week heard the death had been caused by a faulty thermostat in the house's immersion heater. |
When the thermostat failed, the water in the immersion tank boiled continuously and vented into the plastic cold water tank, which melted and spilled boiling water over Rhianna's cot. | |
'Beautiful girl' | |
An inquest heard a woman was killed in similar circumstances in 2002 - but the government did not warn other authorities about the dangers of faulty thermostats. | |
Rhianna's parents, Matthew Hardie and Charlene Haworth, said after the inquest that their daughter's death was "completely avoidable" and an "accident waiting to happen". | Rhianna's parents, Matthew Hardie and Charlene Haworth, said after the inquest that their daughter's death was "completely avoidable" and an "accident waiting to happen". |
In a statement read by their solicitor, they said: "Rhianna was our beautiful little girl. | In a statement read by their solicitor, they said: "Rhianna was our beautiful little girl. |
"Never a day goes by when we do not think of her. We will never forget her." | "Never a day goes by when we do not think of her. We will never forget her." |
Jason Squire, of Ashford solicitors, said: "I can confirm I've been advising Rhianna's parents about a civil claim against Taunton Deane Borough Council. | |
"The evidence at the inquest showed the council knew that the thermostats used sometimes fail. | |
"They knew boiling water could be forced into the cold water tank. They knew the plastic cold water tanks were weak and became soft and unstable. | |
"We are making a claim against them." |
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