Skip to content
NOWCAST NewsCenter 5 EyeOpener
Watch on Demand
Advertisement

Report: 8th child killed by recalled Ikea dresser

(AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster) SOURCE: (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
Advertisement
Report: 8th child killed by recalled Ikea dresser
Another child has reportedly been killed by a recalled Ikea dresser. Last year, the Swedish retailer pulled 29 million chests and dressers that can easily tip over and trap children. The Philadelphia Inquirer reports Jozef Dudek, 2, was crushed in May after being put down for a nap in his California home. A spokesman for the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission confirmed on Wednesday that it was aware of the death and that it had opened an investigation. Dudek, whose parents were not aware of the recall, is the eighth child known to have been killed by an unsecured Ikea dresser. The tragedy has raised concerns about the effectiveness of the recall, which has resulted in only a small portion of the dressers being fixed or destroyed. Some believe Ikea should be doing more to raise awareness about the dangers of the recalled product. “Jozef’s tragic death was completely avoidable,” said Daniel Mann, a lawyer for the child's parents. “What makes this death more heartbreaking is the fact that last year’s so-called recall was poorly publicized by Ikea and ineffective in getting these defective and unstable dressers out of children’s bedrooms across the country.”The recall, which only applies to customers in the U.S. and Canada, impacted several types of Ikea chests and dressers, including the Malm line. Ikea said the units under the recall are children’s chests and drawers taller than 23.5 inches and adult chests and dressers taller than 29.5 inches.The recalled units were sold at Ikea stores “at various times through June 2016,” the company said.All of the children killed have been 3 years old or younger, the CPSC said.

Another child has reportedly been killed by a recalled Ikea dresser.

Last year, the Swedish retailer pulled 29 million chests and dressers that can easily tip over and trap children.

Advertisement

The Philadelphia Inquirer reports Jozef Dudek, 2, was crushed in May after being put down for a nap in his California home.

A spokesman for the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission confirmed on Wednesday that it was aware of the death and that it had opened an investigation.

Dudek, whose parents were not aware of the recall, is the eighth child known to have been killed by an unsecured Ikea dresser.

The tragedy has raised concerns about the effectiveness of the recall, which has resulted in only a small portion of the dressers being fixed or destroyed.

Some believe Ikea should be doing more to raise awareness about the dangers of the recalled product.

“Jozef’s tragic death was completely avoidable,” said Daniel Mann, a lawyer for the child's parents. “What makes this death more heartbreaking is the fact that last year’s so-called recall was poorly publicized by Ikea and ineffective in getting these defective and unstable dressers out of children’s bedrooms across the country.”

The recall, which only applies to customers in the U.S. and Canada, impacted several types of Ikea chests and dressers, including the Malm line. Ikea said the units under the recall are children’s chests and drawers taller than 23.5 inches and adult chests and dressers taller than 29.5 inches.

The recalled units were sold at Ikea stores “at various times through June 2016,” the company said.

All of the children killed have been 3 years old or younger, the CPSC said.