Man with dementia dies after pouring detergent into his cup of tea instead of milk

A tragic incident in the United Kingdom has once again brought the debate about home safety for those suffering from neurodegenerative diseases into the spotlight. David Hayes , an 82-year-old man with Alzheimer's, died after inadvertently consuming liquid detergent , mistaking it for milk, while making a cup of tea at his home in Bolton, England.

The incident, reported by the British newspaper The Sun , occurred on April 16, one day after Hayes accidentally drank the liquid. The white liquid, kept in a plastic bottle that lacked child-safety measures, caused vomiting and, according to doctors, led to chemical aspiration pneumonitis . Despite receiving medical attention, the patient died five days later, on April 21.

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At the coroner's inquest held on July 17, Judge Michael Pemberton ruled the death accidental. The detergent was stored in a screw-top container resembling a milk bottle, which may have caused the fatal confusion. Despite being considered low toxicity, the liquid was fatal when inhaled during vomiting.

"This occurred when she made a cup of tea at home and put laundry detergent in the cup instead of milk after an apparent mix-up," the coroner said.

Following the incident, the coroner issued an official warning to the UK Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs , along with Age UK , Dementia UK and the Alzheimer's Society , requesting an urgent assessment of cleaning product packaging that could pose a danger to vulnerable individuals.

The judge noted that "there is a real risk of similar deaths occurring," especially given that the color of the liquid and its packaging "resemble common consumer products such as milk."

The British newspaper also mentioned the incident of Tom McDonald , a father of five who died in 2023 after putting detergent in his cereal, due to a mistake linked to dementia.

These incidents have raised a global alarm about the urgent need to redesign packaging, develop awareness campaigns, and improve protection for older adults with cognitive impairments.