It has since been reported that a 12ft high Christmas tree in the main reception was on fire and very sadly two men have lost their lives as a result of the blaze. The tree has since been cited as a potential priority for investigators by an emergency worker who was there at the scene.
70 emergency workers were fighting the blaze after a call had been made to the emergency services early on the morning of the 18th December, it was the hotel reception calling to say that the Christmas Tree was alight. It has been said that the flames went along cavities, up through the hotel, between outer walls and the wood-paneled or plastered insides. The firefighters were faced with a lethal, thick smoke as they worked to douse the flames.
A couple who were staying at the hotel, Andrew, and Louise Logan watched in fear as their son was rescued from the fire by the crew, he was carried down a ladder from the third-floor window under the arm of a fireman.
Andrew said, “Smoke spread so quickly that the fire crew could barely see in front of themselves as they scoured rooms looking for trapped victims”
“Flames had traveled up the void between the outside and inner walls, this acted like a chimney to stoke the spread of the fire”
The fire ripped through the luxury resort, temperatures reached 1000c setting the roof ablaze. The fire crews were ordered to evacuate the building to ensure people’s safety. A total of 200 people were evacuated from the building.
Another couple from Leeds were staying at the resort at the time, Matt has described their experience during the fire “We woke up to fire alarms and thought it was a drill. Our son opened the bedroom door and smoke started pouring in, we grabbed our phones, coats, and shoes and ran into the corridor to escape. We tried to get out of the reception, but we couldn’t, luckily one of the staff shouted at us to follow them out through a different entrance into the grounds of the hotel. It was scary, and we could see the flames through the double doors, my main priority was shielding my son”
Six people were also taken to a hospital to be treated for their injuries. Whilst witnesses have said that they were ‘terrified’ by the scenes.
Simon Midgley and his partner Richard Dyson died in the fire and it is understood that one of the men was found close to a window after trying to force his way out. There were also attempts made by paramedics to resuscitate one of the men outside of the hotel, however, they were sadly unable to do so.
A memorial service has been held for the two men, with lovely tributes being made for them. In the service, the reverend also thanked the fire crew for their hard work in trying to put out the fire.
The old building has been severely damaged by the fire, which burned for 24 hours.
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