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Pontins' 'serious failures' led to holiday death | Pontins' 'serious failures' led to holiday death |
(40 minutes later) | |
A holiday company's "very serious failures" at a Lancashire camp led to a woman's death, a court has heard. | A holiday company's "very serious failures" at a Lancashire camp led to a woman's death, a court has heard. |
Karen Taylor, 53, died after contracting Legionnaires' Disease while staying at the Pontins Holiday Centre in Lytham St Annes in July 2009. | Karen Taylor, 53, died after contracting Legionnaires' Disease while staying at the Pontins Holiday Centre in Lytham St Annes in July 2009. |
At Preston Crown Court, prosecutor Simon Parrington said Mrs Taylor had been "exposed to risk" at the camp. | At Preston Crown Court, prosecutor Simon Parrington said Mrs Taylor had been "exposed to risk" at the camp. |
Pontins, which is currently in administration, denies two charges of breaching health and safety laws. | Pontins, which is currently in administration, denies two charges of breaching health and safety laws. |
Mrs Taylor caught Legionnaires' Disease while staying at the centre, but did not become ill until she returned home to Northfields in Birmingham. | Mrs Taylor caught Legionnaires' Disease while staying at the centre, but did not become ill until she returned home to Northfields in Birmingham. |
She was admitted to the city's Selly Oak Hospital, where she was placed on a ventilator and diagnosed with the disease. After developing pneumonia, she died on 29 August. | She was admitted to the city's Selly Oak Hospital, where she was placed on a ventilator and diagnosed with the disease. After developing pneumonia, she died on 29 August. |
'Promoted bacteria' | 'Promoted bacteria' |
The court heard that she had stayed in Chalet 229 at the camp, the same room where another woman had fallen ill in March 2009. | The court heard that she had stayed in Chalet 229 at the camp, the same room where another woman had fallen ill in March 2009. |
Margaret Coote, from Chesterfield, spent five weeks in hospital after contracting Legionnaires' Disease from the chalet's bath. | |
She suffered a heart attack as a result of her infection but recovered. | She suffered a heart attack as a result of her infection but recovered. |
After Mrs Coote's illness, environmental health officers visited the park and expressed concerns about the water temperatures from the boiler which led to the chalet. | |
Mr Parrington said temperatures of water were such that it "promoted the proliferation of the bacteria". | Mr Parrington said temperatures of water were such that it "promoted the proliferation of the bacteria". |
He said management at Pontins had given assurances that action would be taken. | He said management at Pontins had given assurances that action would be taken. |
But, he said, nothing had changed in July, when Mrs Taylor visited, and that despite her complaining that the shower in the chalet was not hot enough, no action was taken. | But, he said, nothing had changed in July, when Mrs Taylor visited, and that despite her complaining that the shower in the chalet was not hot enough, no action was taken. |
"It is the Crown's case that there were very serious failures on behalf of Pontins," he said. | "It is the Crown's case that there were very serious failures on behalf of Pontins," he said. |
"As a result, Mrs Taylor and Mrs Coote, and no doubt many others, were exposed to risk of their health and safety." | |
'Ceased to trade' | 'Ceased to trade' |
The Pontins camp closed in October 2009. | The Pontins camp closed in October 2009. |
The company has entered a not guilty plea to accusations of two breaches of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974. | The company has entered a not guilty plea to accusations of two breaches of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974. |
But due to the company being placed in administration, no defendant has been present in the court and the case is proceeding in the company's absence. | But due to the company being placed in administration, no defendant has been present in the court and the case is proceeding in the company's absence. |
The Recorder of Preston, Judge Anthony Russell QC, told the jury such things were "unusual". | The Recorder of Preston, Judge Anthony Russell QC, told the jury such things were "unusual". |
"Pontins Ltd is a company in administration. It has ceased to trade with large debts and an administrator has been appointed," he said. | "Pontins Ltd is a company in administration. It has ceased to trade with large debts and an administrator has been appointed," he said. |
"The primary duty of the administrator is to look after the interest of those who are owed money so it was felt inappropriate to incur costs in these proceedings." | "The primary duty of the administrator is to look after the interest of those who are owed money so it was felt inappropriate to incur costs in these proceedings." |
The case continues. | The case continues. |