Home / Disasters and Accidents / Clothes Horse Horror: Man Crushed in Freak Accident
Clothes Horse Horror: Man Crushed in Freak Accident
11 Dec, 2025
Summary
- A man died after an indoor clothes horse collapsed and trapped him.
- His desperate attempts to escape tightened the grip around his torso.
- The coroner described the death as rarer than being struck by lightning.
A shocking and extraordinarily rare accidental death occurred in Yorkshire when Brian Depledge, 38, was fatally trapped by a collapsing indoor clothes horse. The incident happened on February 1, 2011, as Depledge was placing laundry on the rack. The structure fell, pinning him in a vice-like grip that intensified with his struggles.
Detective Inspector Mark Long detailed how the clothes horse created a 'cat's cradle effect,' constricting Depledge's torso and neck. A post-mortem examination revealed injuries consistent with asphyxiation, including congested lungs and deep indentations on his chest and neck. The senior coroner, Professor Paul Marks, noted the extreme rarity of such a fatality.
For Depledge's family, the loss is compounded by the unusual nature of his death. His children, Shawni Murgatroyd (18 at the time) and Ryan (11 at the time), have been profoundly affected. Shawni spoke of her father's easy-going nature and his love for his Xbox, while Ryan continues to miss his father dearly.
