"Tragedy After Reaching In: US Woman Dies Trying to Retrieve Clothes from Donation Bin"

Appears to Have Suffocated After Becoming Trapped in Clothing Donation Bin
Similar Accidents Frequently Occur in Western Countries

A woman was found dead, with her body partially stuck in a clothing donation bin in Florida, United States. On June 30 (local time), USA Today and CBS News reported that on the morning of June 27 at 6:45 a.m., the Plantation Police Department in Florida received a report stating that "a person is trapped in a clothing donation bin." When police arrived at the scene, the victim, a woman whose body was half-trapped in the bin, was already deceased. Her identity has not been disclosed, but police indicated that she was a middle-aged woman and was reportedly experiencing homelessness.

Investigators stated, "It appears the victim entered the bin to retrieve items and became trapped, ultimately dying of suffocation," adding, "At this time, it appears to be an accident, but a full investigation is underway." A woman who works in the area told CBS News, "The opening of the bin (clothing donation box) is quite small," and added, "I've put clothes in the box myself, and the opening is very small. I can't imagine someone trying to get inside."

Incidents in which people become trapped and die in clothing donation bins occur occasionally in the United States and other Western countries. In particular, in Canada, these bins are equipped with anti-theft devices. Organizations operating these clothing donation bins have installed such mechanisms to prevent theft, after struggling with thieves who would steal donated clothes from the boxes. The devices are designed in a way that, once someone reaches inside, it is almost impossible to pull their hand back out, functioning almost like a trap.

As a result, even people who do not intend to steal have sometimes become trapped after reaching inside and have died from hypothermia. Locally in Canada, these clothing donation bins are referred to as "death traps." Meanwhile, in South Korea, there was a shocking incident in 2021 when an infant was found dead inside a clothing donation bin. At the time of discovery, the baby was naked, wrapped in a towel, and reportedly still had the umbilical cord attached.