Assistant coroner Brendan Allen told the Daily Echo that ‘great care should be taken taken when using these metal straws. There is no give in them at all.’
He added: ‘If someone does fall on one and it’s pointed in the wrong direction, serious injury can occur. It seems to me these metal straw should not be used with any form of lid that holds them in place.
‘It seems the main problem here is if the lid hadn’t been in place the straw would have moved away.’
Elena’s grieving wife has also issued her own warning, saying that children or anyone with mobility issue should avoid fixed metal straws.
Metal straws have become increasingly popular since companies and restaurants made the move away from single-use plastic straws. In light of the recent warnings, people are now being told to avoid drink containers where the metal straws are affixed - and possibly even consider using silicone straws instead.
