Rhianna Hardie

Rhianna Hardie was a 10 month old baby from Taunton, Somerset, England, who was tragicly killed when boiling water scalded her tiny body, suffering 95% burns, after the ceiling collapsed over her and her sister Emily, who survived.

Death

Due to a fault with a thermostat in a hot water system, that caused baby Rhianna to be scalded to death could affect up to 3.5 million homes, according to an inquest. The ten month old baby girl was killed when boiling water covered her tiny body in a council house in Taunton, that they had moved into that day. The accident happened on Novemeber 19th 2006. Rhianna's father, Matthew Hardie, 22, and Rhianna's Mother, Charlie Haworth, also 22, were enjoying their first night in the new house when the tradgedy occured, and Hardie said "We knew immediatly that she was badly injured." Rhianna and Emily, 2, were put to bed in their room, below the sttic where the water system was kept, when the thermostat in the immersion heater failed, and boiling water "overwhelmed the cold water tank", which then split, and burst into the girls' room, and onto Rhianna who was asleep below, and her sister. Rhianna was rushed to Musgrove Park Hospital for treatment, but died from her injuries 3 weeks later. 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."

Inquest

A chief housing officer for Taunton Council, said safety inspectors didn't have to inspect attics (where the immersion tank was), because they don't have ladders. Richard Eastman, a building supervisor, said that the model of thermostat in the Hardie home was old, and would continue to heat up once broken, and that modern models automatically cut out. Avon and Somerset Police, the Health and Safety Executive and Taunton Deane Borough Council have all launched investigations following the accident. It has since been said, that a replacement £5 thermostat, would have saved Rhianna's life. Her father is now suing Taunton Council.

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