Coronial
WAhospital

Inquest into the Death of Jasmine Lilian CAMMILLERI

Deceased

Jasmine Lilian CAMMILLERI

Demographics

2y, female

Date of death

2013-02-11

Finding date

2016-12-28

Cause of death

chest injury - tear to right atrium with haemopericardium caused by television set falling on torso

AI-generated summary

A 2-year-old girl died from chest injury after a 15.8kg television set fell on her when she climbed onto an unsecured wooden cabinet. Despite prompt ambulance response and resuscitative efforts, she suffered a tear to the right atrium and haemopericardium. The death was preventable through television anchoring. Clinical lessons include: (1) understanding that children's flexible ribcages can sustain severe internal injury without external bruising, (2) recognizing that blunt chest trauma may cause arrhythmias and sudden cardiovascular collapse, and (3) emphasizing to families that unsecured heavy furniture and appliances pose serious hazards to curious toddlers. Public health education about furniture safety and anchoring systems is crucial for injury prevention.

AI-generated summary and tagging — may contain inaccuracies; refer to original finding for legal purposes.

Contributing factors

  • television set not anchored or secured to wall or cabinet
  • television set placed on wooden cabinet of adequate height for climbing toddler
  • unsecured television set became unstable when child touched or pulled it
  • child's known climbing behaviour and attraction to moving images on television
  • brief unsupervised period while mother was out of room

Coroner's recommendations

  1. Copy of finding to be made available to KidSafe WA to tailor key messages on furniture safety in fact sheets, publications, workshops and seminars
  2. Emphasis on anchoring television sets to fixed points as a safety measure
  3. Public education regarding risks of unsecured television sets and other tall furniture to young children
  4. Increased emphasis on safety features at point of television sale
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