Honeymooners compensated after St Lucia motorboat explosion
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Mr and Mrs W went on honeymoon on an all inclusive deal to Sandals resort, in St Lucia, where Mr W went on a snorkelling trip. To get to the boat that took him to the snorkelling area, he had to swim out from the resort's beach some 20 yards. Mrs W waved him off from the beach.
Mr W climbed aboard the boat and the next moment it exploded. Two people who operated the boat were killed; Mr W and several other clients were badly burned and injured. Mrs W witnessed the explosion, and saw her husband lying face down in the water. She swam to the boat to help save her husband and dragged him back to shore.
Mr W had also inhaled a lot of smoke, whilst Mrs W remained traumatised from what she had seen. Mr and Mrs W contacted Access Legal from Shoosmiths, and we quickly brought a claim against the tour operator under The Package Travel, Package Holiday and Package Tour Regulations 1992. Although they initially denied liability, which was mainly fuelled by rumours of sabotage and a poorly maintained boat, they eventually accepted liability. The tour operator pursued its own legal action again the boat operator.
Mrs W was also able to claim as she was deemed to be a secondary victim due to her close relationship with Mr W, and the fact that she had witnessed the accident and gone to her husband's aid. The claim was brought in this country and was successful. Mr W received £29,000, and Mrs W £6,500 compensation for the injuries and psychological traumas they experienced.
Who dealt with the case?
This case was handled by Paul Morrison, Head of the Personal Injury Team, in Northampton. Paul specialises in employer'' liability claims and accidents/diseases abroad.
