I got this reply this morning
Hi
2 babies died in the hammock in the US. Heartbreaking as it was, they both died with some evidence that the hammock was misused (not used or set up according to directions or both). However, the US Consumer Affairs regards it simply as deaths in the hammock. Under the circumstances, however, there is no total recall, just a repair kit to make sure that parents set up the hammock properly.
The Amby has been sold over 20 years in Australia and in Europe without as much as a serious injury reported. I invented it for my baby daughter 20 years ago. Now we have 12 week old twins who both sleep exclusively in the Amby
However, if you are concerned, use the hammock without the mattress. This will make it extremely hard for your baby to roll over.We will also send you a repair kit when we get it
Hope this helps
i figured it may have been due to the product not being used correctly - but that was never going to be reported correctly by the media.

i guess it's a timely warning that we need to be vigilant no matter where our babies sleep and keep an eye on them - and use their bedding correctly.

this won't put me off using the hammock for another baby if we have one - it's just something we need to be aware of. i would probably still be using it for DD now (if she would sleep in it) except for the fact that she refused to sleep in it - she likes a solid base to sleep on so has been in our bed or her cot all along...