Quebec coroner urges Canada to recall Murphy beds without safeguards after death of 5-year-old

A Quebec coroner is calling for Canada to remove all Murphy beds lacking proper safety features from the market, and to ensure only those meeting international safety standards are sold.

In a report released Thursday, coroner Donald Nicole made 11 recommendations following the death of a five-year-old boy after a Murphy bed suddenly opened and fell on him. The tragedy occurred on January 12 during a family vacation at the Village Vacances Valcartier water park resort in Saint-Gabriel-de-Valcartier, Quebec.

Anthony Putnam, visiting from Massachusetts with his family, was playing on a couch beneath the Murphy bed in their hotel room when the accident happened. As his mother was unpacking and his father parking the car, the boy reportedly grabbed a pair of handles behind the couch, causing the queen-sized bed to spring open and strike him on the head.

Rushed to the hospital, Anthony was found to have suffered severe cranial and facial fractures along with multiple cerebral hemorrhages. Despite emergency surgery, he was pronounced dead that evening.

The coroner's investigation found that the bed's spring mechanisms were weak, allowing it to open suddenly with minimal force. The bed also lacked a locking device to prevent accidental opening and did not comply with the ISO 10131 international safety standard, which is not mandatory in Canada.

"All the evidence gathered shows that young Anthony … died from head injuries resulting from the sudden opening of a vertical fold-down bed that had no locking device to limit its unexpected opening," Nicole stated in his report.

Similar Murphy bed incidents have been linked to at least two other deaths in Canada over the past 20 years, with coroners repeatedly urging the application of the safety standard. However, some manufacturers continue to sell non-compliant Murphy beds without locking mechanisms.

In response to the accident, Hôtel Valcartier promptly upgraded the safety of its 123 Murphy beds—manufactured by Les meubles BOFF Inc. and purchased from Matelas Dauphin—by adding safety notices and restraint devices to prevent sudden openings.

Nicole’s report, however, criticized the manufacturer for a lack of changes post-incident. The general manager of Les meubles BOFF Inc. could not confirm whether their beds met ISO 10131 standards or if a maintenance guide existed for inspecting spring mechanisms. A visit in May 2024 revealed the company was still selling furniture without adequate safety devices.

The coroner emphasized the urgent need for safety improvements and recommended that Les meubles BOFF Inc. install safety devices in their Murphy beds and warn past and future customers about the risks. He also urged Health Canada to make ISO 10131 compliance mandatory and remove non-compliant Murphy beds from the market.

Quebec’s main hotel associations were also asked to alert their customers about the potential dangers of Murphy beds lacking safety mechanisms. In response, the Association hôtellerie du Québec stated it would notify its members of the risks posed by such beds.

Health Canada, in a statement, said the coroner’s recommendation might not go far enough. The agency is working with an international standards organization to develop new safety guidelines, including detailed instructions, warnings, and installation hardware requirements for all Murphy beds, going beyond the ISO 10131 standard.

While there are no specific regulations for Murphy beds in Canada, Health Canada emphasized that suppliers must ensure their products are safe for consumers.