Man accidentally stabbed and killed himself trying to split frozen burgers with a knife

A man accidentally stabbed himself while trying to split up frozen burgers with a knife.

Barry Griffiths tragically died at his home in Llandrindod Wells, Pwys, Wales, following the incident. And adding to the tragedy, the 57-year-old’s body wasn’t found until 4 July, 2023, several days after the accident.

With restricted use of one arm following a stroke, Griffiths lived alone in a supported accommodation flat. Concerns were then raised about his welfare when he hadn’t been seen for over a week.

The man was eventually found lying fully clothed in bed with blood on his swollen stomach and had reportedly left a trail of blood in hallway, bathroom and bedroom.

Barry Griffiths is believed to have lay dead for several days (Wales News Service)

During the inquest at Pontypridd coroner’s court on Monday (16 September), Detective Chief Inspector Jonathan Rees explained: "My thought process favoured the wound had been caused by an accident solely involving Mr Griffiths.

"The bottom drawer of the freezer had been left open and pulled forward in a position to access food items. On the work surface in the kitchen adjacent to the fridge freezer were two uncooked burgers, a knife and a tea towel.

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"The wound to the abdomen would have been approximately the height of the work surface. My hypothesis at that stage was that Mr Griffiths was attempting to separate frozen burgers using a knife."

And Detective Sergeant Stephen Vaughan said he was satisfied the man’s death was not suicide, but more a case of ‘an unexplained death’.

It's thought he was getting some burgers ready to cook (Wales News Service)

He added to the court that there was no indication Griffiths had been assaulted.

As a result, area coroner Patricia Morgan concluded the man most likely died from an accident while getting frozen food prepared to cook dinner.

Morgan said Griffiths, who led a ‘relatively private life with limited contact with others’, lay dead for several days from a singular stab wound combined with a condition where plaque builds up in the arteries restricting blood flow to the heart.

“I appreciate the evidence is difficult to hear and traumatic,” she said.

“Thank you for your patience while the investigation was ongoing. I express my condolences at this difficult time.”