Woman died in freak dishwasher accident after being impaled on knife

A 31 year old woman tragically died after slipping and being impaled on a knife that was facing upright in the dishwasher drawer in a horrifying accident.

Jane McDonald had been tidying up before bed at the manse she shared with Reverend Sharon Colvin, a distant relative, when the incident occurred in 2003. This tragic event eerily mirrors a similar accident six years prior that resulted in the death of a 12 year old boy in Northampton.

The Church of Scotland minister discovered Jane collapsed on the kitchen floor and immediately dialled 999 for help. Despite the best efforts of paramedics, Jane sadly passed away shortly afterwards at Monklands General Hospital, in Airdrie, Lanarkshire.

At her funeral service held at Armadale Parish Church, in West Lothian, over 300 mourners gathered to pay their final respects to Ms McDonald, who had grown up in the local area.

Reverend Elizabeth Kenny said: "Jane was a bubbly, vivacious person who loved going out to nightclubs and dancing with her friends. She was a bonny wee lass who always wore designer clothes and never went out without wearing make-up. Jane was a no-nonsense person and people always knew where they stood with her.", reports the Daily Record.

The minister also revealed the poignant detail that Jane died holding the hand of her brother, Mark, who had rushed to the hospital just minutes before she passed away.

Ms McDonald, the youngest of five children and originally from the Armadale area, was staying with the minister while studying for a HND in legal studies at Motherwell College.

Strathclyde police stated the incident appears to be a tragic accident with no suspicious circumstances, following their investigations.

A local resident in the cul-de-sac where the mishap occurred told The Guardian that emergency services arrived shortly after 10pm.

They said: "We wondered what was happening when we saw all the people. I think there were four or five medics. They must have been there 10 or 15 minutes then the woman was taken away in an ambulance."

A spokesperson for the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents advised: "People should, if they can, make sure that they have knives pointing down in the dishwasher even though some manufacturers say otherwise."

Knives also pose a risk in the dishwasher for cuts to hands and lower arms. Individuals can inadvertently grasp the blade instead of the handle if they are not paying attention or if the knife is partially hidden by other dishes.

Safety officials and some knife manufacturers suggest that knives should be stored with the blade facing downwards while in the dishwasher.