Liverpool Council Initiates Legal Action Against Hotel Chain Following Tragic Death
Liverpool City Council has announced it will take Britannia Hotels to court over alleged health and safety breaches, following the tragic death of a 21-year-old woman in one of its hotels. Chloe Haynes was found dead in her room at the Adelphi Hotel in the early hours of September 10, 2022, after a wardrobe fell on her, crushing her windpipe.
Investigation Concludes with Prosecution Decision
The council's Environmental Health department launched an investigation after the incident, which has now concluded with the decision to prosecute. Proceedings are being brought against two Britannia Hotels companies and are scheduled to start on May 7 at Liverpool Magistrates' Court.
Three men were initially arrested on suspicion of murder but were released without charge when police determined the death was accidental. The men had been trying to help after Chloe's colleague found her body and raised the alarm.
Family's Heartbreaking Account of the Incident
Chloe's mother, Nicola Williams, described how her daughter had traveled from Hafan y Mor Haven Holiday Park in Pwllheli, North Wales, where she worked, for a night out in Liverpool. She was sharing a room with a colleague who returned to find the wardrobe had fallen on her.
"It seems she has got up out of the bed confused, not knowing where she is, and she's opened the door of the wardrobe maybe thinking it is the toilet or the door to go back out of the room," Miss Williams told the Liverpool Echo. "It was a big, old, heavy wardrobe and it's fallen on her and crushed her windpipe."
Hotel Safety Issues Identified
Following Chloe's death, Liverpool Council conducted spot checks at the premises and issued prohibition notices regarding wardrobe safety and window conditions. While Britannia appealed the wardrobe notices and they were dropped after safety work was completed, the company dropped its appeal regarding windows.
A spokesperson for Britannia Hotels stated: "We can confirm that Liverpool City Council has initiated legal proceedings in relation to the Adelphi Hotel and we are fully cooperating with the legal process. Our sympathies remain with the families and loved ones of those involved."
Remembering Chloe Haynes
Miss Williams remembered her daughter as a "petite and beautiful" young woman who loved animals and had a dog named Archie. "She was kind and caring and she seemed to connect with gay men and that was how she met the friend she went to Liverpool with," she said.
The council spokesperson confirmed proceedings are due to take place, though specific details of the case remain unclear. The legal action represents a significant step in addressing health and safety concerns in hospitality establishments following this tragic incident.
