'Number of defects' led to fatal fire at Cameron House hotel

A fig of defects successful the systems of moving astatine a luxury edifice contributed to a occurrence which claimed the lives 2 guests, an enquiry has found.

Simon Midgley, 32, and his spouse Richard Dyson, 38, died successful the blaze astatine Cameron House connected the banks of Loch Lomond successful December 2017.

A fatal mishap enquiry was held past twelvemonth to found if lessons could beryllium learned from the tragedy.

The occurrence broke retired aft nighttime porter Christopher O'Malley near a integrative container of ash successful a concierge's cupboard containing newspapers and kindling.

Cameron House Resort (Loch Lomond) Ltd was antecedently ordered to wage £500,000 aft admitting to breaches of occurrence information rules.

O'Malley, 35, who admitted breaching the Health and Safety astatine Work Act, was fixed a assemblage payback order.

In his 122-page findings, Sheriff Thomas McCartney said the contiguous origin of the occurrence was the placing of blistery ash wrong the cupboard astatine the reception country of the five-star edifice adjacent Balloch, West Dunbartonshire.

He added: "Precautions which could reasonably person been taken which mightiness realistically person resulted successful the deaths oregon the mishap resulting successful the deaths being avoided person been identified.

"There were a fig of defects successful systems of moving which contributed to the mishap resulting successful the deaths and besides a fig of different facts which are applicable to the circumstances of the deaths."

A coroner successful England antecedently ruled that the couple, from northbound London, were unlawfully killed and raised concerns that helium had not been allowed entree to documents and CCTV footage by Scottish authorities.

Scotland's Crown Office initially said an FAI was not needed due to the fact that the circumstances of the fatalities had been established.

But a reappraisal overturned the decision aft Mr Midgley's parent Jane, from Leeds, called for wider lessons to beryllium learned.

The enquiry into the occurrence astatine the five-star edifice adjacent Balloch, West Dunbartonshire, yet got nether mode astatine Paisley Sheriff Court past August.

On the opening time the resort's nighttime manager Darren Robinson told the tribunal helium had activated the hotel's afloat alarm astatine astir 06:40 connected 18 December 2017 aft fume was detected connected a occurrence power sheet astatine reception.

Moments later, nighttime porter O'Malley opened the concierge cupboard, conscionable disconnected of the reception area, and was confronted with flames and smoke.

Mr Robinson, who was besides occurrence warden astatine the time, said helium near the gathering without the database of guests successful the edifice - which helium lone realised erstwhile helium was astir to commencement the rotation call.

In the that followed much than 200 radical were evacuated from the five-star edifice to its adjacent Boat House restaurant.

The household were rescued erstwhile firefighters arrived and taken to infirmary for treatment.

As the flames took hold, Mr Midgely and Mr Dyson tried to usage a representation framework to interruption a laminated double-glazed window.

Both men were recovered with cuts connected their arms, which the tribunal heard was accordant with their failed bid to smash the window.

Mr Dyson was recovered connected a landing astatine the apical of a staircase, portion Mr Midgley was discovered lying successful a occurrence flight passageway.

Forensic pathologist Dr Julie McAdam said Mr Midgely, who ran his ain PR company, and Mr Dyson, a TV producer, died from inhalation of fume and occurrence gases.

Fire researcher Gary Love said much than 75% of the main gathering of the 128-room edifice was "severely damaged" successful the incident.

He concluded that the occurrence was accidental and was astir most apt caused by a careless act.

Mr Love said it was "not rare" for radical to judge ashes were dead, portion they inactive contained blistery oregon smouldering embers.

The tribunal was besides amusement CCTV footage of the infinitesimal the occurrence was discovered by O'Malley.

During his grounds O'Malley said it did not hap to him that putting a container of ash successful a cupboard could person started a fire.

He said the ash bins extracurricular had been full, which helium had reported this to the nighttime manager some connected the greeting of 18 December 2017 and the erstwhile morning.

He besides said that helium had received "no grooming whatsoever" connected disposing of ashes.

The tribunal besides heard bosses astatine the edifice - which reopened successful September 2021 - were told earlier the occurrence astir the information of storing combustible materials successful definite cupboards.

The FAI heard that successful August 2017 James Clark, a occurrence inspector, had highlighted immoderate concerns about the edifice successful a regular inspection.