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Summerland fire victims remembered on 40th anniversary | Summerland fire victims remembered on 40th anniversary |
(2 days later) | |
Fifty people who died in the Summerland fire disaster have been remembered 40 years after the Isle of Man tragedy. | Fifty people who died in the Summerland fire disaster have been remembered 40 years after the Isle of Man tragedy. |
About 3,000 holidaymakers were inside the leisure complex in Douglas when fire swept through the building on 2 August 1973. | About 3,000 holidaymakers were inside the leisure complex in Douglas when fire swept through the building on 2 August 1973. |
The disaster led to changes in fire regulations in the Isle of Man, the UK and around the world. | The disaster led to changes in fire regulations in the Isle of Man, the UK and around the world. |
A permanent memorial inscribed with the names of the victims was unveiled at a service in Douglas on Friday. | A permanent memorial inscribed with the names of the victims was unveiled at a service in Douglas on Friday. |
Douglas Council leader David Christian described it as "one of the most tragic events in Manx modern-day history". | Douglas Council leader David Christian described it as "one of the most tragic events in Manx modern-day history". |
No prosecutions | No prosecutions |
The victims came from across the UK and included men, women and children - 11 of the dead were under 20 years of age. | The victims came from across the UK and included men, women and children - 11 of the dead were under 20 years of age. |
Five members of a single family from Essex were killed, including 10-year-old twin girls, and 17 children lost one or both parents in the disaster. | |
The fire, sparked by three boys smoking in a disused kiosk next to a crazy golf course, gutted the leisure complex within minutes. | The fire, sparked by three boys smoking in a disused kiosk next to a crazy golf course, gutted the leisure complex within minutes. |
One survivor, Sally Naden, a dancer at the complex, remembers watching a "waterfall of fire" sweep towards her. | One survivor, Sally Naden, a dancer at the complex, remembers watching a "waterfall of fire" sweep towards her. |
She said: "There was an explosion and then a huge wall of flames from the floor to the ceiling came towards us at great speed." | She said: "There was an explosion and then a huge wall of flames from the floor to the ceiling came towards us at great speed." |
No-one has ever been prosecuted, although it emerged some fire exits were chained and padlocked. | No-one has ever been prosecuted, although it emerged some fire exits were chained and padlocked. |
A public inquiry concluded there were "no villains" but said a combination of "human errors, a reliance on the old-boy network and poor communications" led to the disaster. | A public inquiry concluded there were "no villains" but said a combination of "human errors, a reliance on the old-boy network and poor communications" led to the disaster. |
New building regulations introduced after the disaster included ensuring emergency exits are never locked and stipulating that children in entertainment venues should always be accommodated on or near ground level. | New building regulations introduced after the disaster included ensuring emergency exits are never locked and stipulating that children in entertainment venues should always be accommodated on or near ground level. |
'Permanent scar' | 'Permanent scar' |
At Summerland, many children were on upper floors which meant parents ran upstairs rather than heading towards the exit. | At Summerland, many children were on upper floors which meant parents ran upstairs rather than heading towards the exit. |
According to the Summerland Fire Commission report, the disaster will "remain a permanent scar in the minds of Manxmen". | According to the Summerland Fire Commission report, the disaster will "remain a permanent scar in the minds of Manxmen". |
The memorial service organised by Douglas Borough Council will start at 19:45 BST at the foot of Summer Hill, close to the former Summerland site. | The memorial service organised by Douglas Borough Council will start at 19:45 BST at the foot of Summer Hill, close to the former Summerland site. |
Archdeacon of Man, the Venerable Andrew Brown, will lead the service before a minute's silence at 20:01 BST - the exact time the first call was received by the emergency services. | Archdeacon of Man, the Venerable Andrew Brown, will lead the service before a minute's silence at 20:01 BST - the exact time the first call was received by the emergency services. |
The new granite memorial will sit alongside a stone laid in August 1998 to mark the 25th anniversary of the disaster. | The new granite memorial will sit alongside a stone laid in August 1998 to mark the 25th anniversary of the disaster. |
Summerland was rebuilt on a smaller scale in 1976 and reopened in 1978. It was demolished in 2005. | Summerland was rebuilt on a smaller scale in 1976 and reopened in 1978. It was demolished in 2005. |
The Isle of Man government is currently in discussions with an off-island developer over the vacant site. | The Isle of Man government is currently in discussions with an off-island developer over the vacant site. |