Stay up to date with notifications from The IndependentNotifications can be managed in browser preferences.Jump to contentThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged inAllNewsSportCultureLifestyleAnthony Barnes who died in March 2023 following a fire in the spa of the five-star Jaal Ryad Resort Hotel in Marrakech (PA)A British man's widow is suing the operators of a luxury Moroccan hotel for over £500,000 following her husband's death in a spa fire. Anthony Barnes, 48, from Cambridgeshire, died in March 2023 at the five-star Jaal Ryad Resort Hotel in Marrakech while undergoing a massage when a blaze erupted, which an inquest later concluded was accidental due to thick smoke hindering rescue efforts. His widow, Rachel Barnes, alleges the fire was 'caused by the negligence' of Hotel Des Idrissides, claiming failures such as a lack of fire alarms, evacuation lighting, non-fire-resistant materials and inadequate emergency response. The hotel firm is contesting the High Court claim, denying any negligence or breach of duty, stating the building complied with Moroccan regulations, had a suitable alarm system, emergency lighting and multiple working fire extinguishers. The claim seeks damages exceeding £500,000, with the hotel's barrister arguing that the claim fails to demonstrate how the alleged omissions directly caused Mr Barnes' death, and a hearing date is yet to be scheduled. In fullWidow of British man who died in Morocco luxury spa fire sues hotelMore bulletinsThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in
Luxury Moroccan hotel sued by widow of man who died in spa fire
Stay up to date with notifications from The IndependentNotifications can be managed in browser preferences.Jump to contentThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged inAllNewsSportCultureLifestyleAnthony Barnes who died in March 2023 following a fire in the spa of the five-star Jaal Ryad Resort Hotel in Marrakech (PA)A British man's widow is suing the operators of a luxury Moroccan hotel for over £500,000 following her husband's death in a spa fire. Anthony Barnes, 48, from Cambridgeshire, died in March 2023 at the five-star Jaal Ryad Resort Hotel in Marrakech while undergoing a massage when a blaze erupted, which an inquest later concluded was accidental due to thick smoke hindering rescue efforts. His widow, Rachel Barnes, alleges the fire was 'caused by the negligence' of Hotel Des Idrissides, claiming failures such as a lack of fire alarms, evacuation lighting, non-fire-resistant materials and inadequate emergency response. The hotel firm is contesting the High Court claim, denying any negligence or breach of duty, stating the building complied with Moroccan regulations, had a suitable alarm system, emergency lighting and multiple working fire extinguishers. The claim seeks damages exceeding £500,000, with the hotel's barrister arguing that the claim fails to demonstrate how the alleged omissions directly caused Mr Barnes' death, and a hearing date is yet to be scheduled. In fullWidow of British man who died in Morocco luxury spa fire sues hotelMore bulletinsThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in
