TWO VULNERABLE PEOPLE DIED AT ROADFORD LAKE

A SPECIALIST care home in Devon has been fined £180,000 for catastrophic failures relating to a boating tragedy which claimed the lives of two vulnerable people. Wheelchair users Alison Tilsley, 63, and Alex Wood, 43, died when a specially designed vessel capsized at Roadford Lake on June 8, 2022.

- By PAUL GREAVES

Both were residents at Burdon Grange Care Home in Highampton, near Hatherleigh, which had arranged the activity, but had not carried out a proper risk assessment. A court in Exeter heard the risks to those taking part in the trip were ‘patently obvious.

Six people were thrown into the water. Four were rescued, including Kate Dart, another vulnerable service user, who was airlifted to hospital.

Burdon Grange Care Home Limited admitted three breaches of the Health and Social Care Act 2006. The company pleaded guilty to failing to provide proper and safe care to service users resulting in avoidable harm.

District Judge Stuart Smith said: “This case is nothing short of devastating, harrowing and absolutely tragic.”

He imposed a fine of £180,000 and ordered the company pay £20,000 costs. He said the amount would have been higher but he did not want the fine to impact the care of vulnerable people who still live at Burton Grange. The company has a £2.5m annual turnover and employs 88 people with yearly profits of around £300,000.