DEATH IN A CAN
Whipped cream blast kills blogger-model
A FRENCH fitness model and blogger with an international social media following died after a freak accident involving a whipped cream canister, her family said.
Relatives of Rebecca Burger broke the heartbreaking news to her fans in an Instagram post on Wednesday.
“It is with great sadness we announce the death of Rebecca,” they said in their post. They said Burger died Sunday.
In an earlier message on her Instagram page, the family said a pressurized whipped cream dispenser exploded, hitting the 33-year-old fitness guru in the thorax, and sending her into cardiac arrest. The family also urged people not to purchase the faulty bottle.
“Do not use this style of utensil! Tens of thousands of defective devices are still in circulation,” the warning read.
The magazine 60 Million Consumers reported Burger was hit violently in the chest by the exploding canister, and said that led to a heart attack.
The magazine said it had issued warnings for years about the canisters after dozens of incidents, but this was apparently the first death reported.
“The injuries caused range from broken teeth and tinnitus to multiple fractures and, in one case, the loss of an eye,” the BBC reported.
The manufacturer of the kitchen product, Ard’time, said the product has not been on the market since a “first incident implicating a siphon” in February 2013.
The product was withdrawn from the market and canisters were destroyed, and other efforts made to alert consumers, a company statement said.
“Unfortunately, there are still lots of siphons of all brands that remain potentially dangerous as time passes,” the company said.
According to BBC, Burger received medical attention but died of cardiac arrest at the hospital.
An investigation has been launched by the prosecutor’s office in the city of Mulhouse, according to CNN. Authorities also said the cause of death is not yet confirmed.
The model, who had more than 150,000 Instagram followers, often shared photos of herself in workout gear and sultry swimsuits.
Her social media page was also filled with images of her hairdo and pictures of her meals. In one of her last Instagram posts, a smiling Burger reflected on her accomplishments.
“A beautiful day has come to an end,” she wrote.
“A lot of trips coming, and new projects. I realized I should sit still right now and reflect on everything I’ve already accomplished and what I’m about to experience. I tell myself, life is good.
“We don’t have any control over time so make the absolute most of it.”