UK woman killed by metal straw in freak accident
Elena Struthers-Gardner, pictured right, was found in the kitchen by her civil partner Mandy, left. Facebook
A British woman died when she fell onto a metal drinking straw that tore through her eye and pierced her brain, an inquest heard.
Elena Struthers-Gardner, 60, collapsed at her home in Poole, southern England, while carrying a mason-jar style drinking glass with a screw-top lid, the Independent reports.
The 24cms metal straw – held in place by the lid – caused a fatal brain injury after she fell last November.
Former jockey Elena Struthers-Gardner died from brain injuries after a metal straw pierced her eye. Facebook
The retired jockey had a history of falling stemming from spinal injuries she suffered in a riding accident.
Ms Struthers-Gardner’s wife, Mandy, told the inquest in a statement she didn’t hear the fatal fall but discovered her “making unusual gurgling noises” in the couple’s kitchen.
“Her glass cup was lying on the floor still intact and the straw was still in the jar. I noticed the straw was sticking in her head.”
Medical staff had never seen such an injury caused by a metal straw. Getty
After she called an ambulance, Ms Struthers-Gardner was taken to hospital but doctors were unable to save her.
Her life support was switched off the next day.
Medical staff “had never seen an injury like that,” Detective Inspector Wayne Seymour of Dorset Police said.
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