Rachel Barnes, the wife of a British man who tragically died in a fire while receiving a massage at a luxurious spa, is taking legal action against the operators of a Moroccan hotel where the incident occurred.
The deceased, Anthony Barnes, passed away in March 2023 while staying at the prestigious Jaal Ryad Resort Hotel in Marrakech during a business trip. Mrs. Barnes is seeking over £500,000 in damages from Hotel Des Idrissides, trading as Jaal Ryad, alleging that the fire was a result of the company’s negligence. The hotel, however, refutes these claims and asserts that they were not at fault for Mr. Barnes’ demise.
According to court documents presented by Mrs. Barnes’ barrister, Matthew Chapman KC, Mr. Barnes was undergoing a massage treatment when hotel staff became aware of the fire. An inquest in the UK determined that Mr. Barnes’ death was accidental, citing the spa’s visibility hindrance due to thick smoke as a contributing factor.
Chapman argued that the hotel failed to implement adequate fire safety measures in the spa, such as fire alarms, evacuation lighting, and timely communication with emergency services. He further highlighted issues with the spa’s construction materials and lack of sufficient fire extinguishers.
On the other hand, the defense, led by Alistair Mackenzie representing Hotel Des Idrissides, claimed that the fire originated in the sauna and that hotel employees promptly responded to the situation, following proper evacuation procedures. Mackenzie asserted that the hotel complied with Moroccan regulations for such facilities and had appropriate safety measures in place.
While acknowledging that smoke alarms were not present in Mr. Barnes’ specific location due to humidity concerns, Mackenzie stated that adjacent areas were adequately equipped with alarm systems. He also emphasized that emergency lighting, CCTV surveillance, and functional fire extinguishers were available throughout the premises.
The legal battle between Mrs. Barnes and Hotel Des Idrissides continues, with both sides presenting contrasting arguments regarding the circumstances leading to the tragic incident.