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An 80-year-old grandmother died after being trapped by her Sleep Number bed for two days, according to a lawsuit obtained by the New York Post.
Rosalind 'Roz' Walker, of Godfrey, Illinois, was pinned against her wall after her mattress suddenly "lowered itself without warning" on March 1, 2023. The elderly woman was stuck for about 48 hours before emergency crews freed her and rushed her to a nearby hospital, where she received treatment for unspecified injuries.
Walker was transferred to a rehabilitation clinic and later hospice care in her home before being pronounced dead on April 3, 2023, according to the lawsuit.
“She suffered the entire time,” the filing states.
Angela Moan, Walker's daughter, filed a lawsuit against Sleep Number on Tuesday (December 10) alleging that her mother's death was caused by a "defective" bed that was purchased 10 years prior, well within its 25-year warranty. Leggett & Platt, Inc., the manufacturer of the bed, is accused of not providing "adequate instructions or cautionary language in the instructions or on the bed, alerting Mrs. Walker not to go between the bed and the wall as she could be trapped.”
The bed also lacked a release mechanism that would've quickly freed Walker, according to the lawsuit. A Sleep Number spokesperson confirmed that the company was aware of and reviewing allegations made in the lawsuit.
“The suit alleges that a malfunctioning adjustable base purchased in 2014 was a contributing factor in the death of Rosalind Walker,” the spokesperson said via the New York Post. “We understand that this incident is alleged to have occurred in March 2023; we were notified of the alleged incident after the lawsuit was filed yesterday, December 10.”
“We extend our sincere condolences to the family of Ms Walker for their tragic loss,” the spokesperson added.