Fire survivor plagued by flashbacks

A mother of three has been left severely traumatised after a family seaside holiday turned to disaster when a fire destroyed a Cornish hotel.

When the fire broke out the hotel was close to capacity with 86 guests, three members of staff and a coach driver in the building including three generations of the Smith family.

Mrs Smith was awoken in the early hours of the morning by lots of shouting and noise. She woke her two daughters who were sharing her room. They went into the corridor, which was full of black smoke and frightened, disorientated guests.

Everyone was screaming and crying, rushing to get out. It was chaos. She was terrified, because she could not find the rest of her family and in the commotion she also became separated from her daughters.

Alone, she made her way onto the fire escape and it was here she witnessed another of the guests leap from the burning building to his death.

Mrs Smith thought that her family had become trapped in the fire. But after a few terrifying minutes, the whole family was reunited on the street outside the hotel.

But for Mrs Smith that was not the end of her ordeal. Since the fire she has had regular nightmares and flashbacks during which she is unable to physically move. Having regular counselling has done little to help the trauma.

"The family lost everything that they had brought on holiday with them, but are simply relieved to be alive," said Nicholas Seymour, specialist criminal injury lawyer, representing Mrs Smith.

"The police announcement that the fire was caused by arson has caused even more upset, because Mrs Smith finds it hard to comprehend the fact that somebody could be so cruel as to set a hotel full of holidaymakers on fire".

"Bond Pearce are advising Mrs Smith on a claim to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority. My view is that this was a horrific and terrifying, life changing incident and the victims like Mrs Smith and her family deserve to receive appropriate compensation from the CICA."

"Although this does not make up for the trauma that occurred, it at least shows that society condemns the criminals and recognises the difficulties suffered by the victims."

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