Tragic Incident at Jaal Ryad Resort
Rachel Barnes has initiated legal proceedings in London's High Court following the heartbreaking death of her husband, Anthony Barnes, who tragically passed away on March 22, 2023, while staying at the Jaal Ryad Resort Hotel in Marrakech, Morocco. The claim is being brought forward on behalf of her husband's estate as well as their two children. Mrs. Barnes is represented by Chris Deacon, a partner from the International Injury team at Stewarts Law, who has been diligently assisting the family in their quest to uncover the details surrounding the devastating fire that led to Mr. Barnes' untimely demise and in pursuing a civil claim for damages.
Details of the Fatal Fire Incident
At the age of 48, Anthony Barnes was in Morocco for a work-related trip, organized through Booking.com and set to last two nights. On the day of his arrival, a fire erupted in the hotel's basement spa area while Mr. Barnes was receiving a massage, occurring between 3 PM and 4 PM local time. Eyewitness accounts revealed that a sudden explosion was heard, followed by the rapid onset of thick smoke. Despite the hotel's staff's attempts to extinguish the flames and evacuate guests, their efforts were hampered by the heavy smoke that filled the area. Emergency services were called to the scene, but tragically, both Mr. Barnes and a hotel employee lost their lives due to smoke inhalation.
The subsequent investigation into the incident led to a criminal prosecution in Morocco against the hotel's general manager, resulting in a three-month suspended sentence, though this verdict is currently under appeal. An inquest held by the coroner for Cambridgeshire and Peterborough concluded in October 2025, attributing Mr. Barnes' death to smoke inhalation exacerbated by pre-existing coronary atherosclerosis. The coroner's report stated, "On March 22, 2023, Anthony Barnes was a guest at the Jaal Ryad Resort when he became trapped in a fire at the spa, where he was engulfed by thick, acrid smoke, severely affecting visibility and complicating rescue efforts. He was eventually rescued by firefighters but was pronounced dead that same evening at the resort." Mrs. Barnes has since filed a claim against Hotel Les Idrissides, which operates as Jaal Ryad.
Expressing her grief, Mrs. Barnes stated, "It is almost three years since I lost my husband, Anthony, and our children lost their doting, dedicated, and hardworking father. This has been, and continues to be, a difficult time for us all, compounded by the hotel now seeking to deny liability and withdraw what I had understood to be an unequivocal acceptance of its responsibility for what happened to Anthony, made before we started court proceedings. The inquest has provided some answers, but I am still at a loss as to what caused the fire and why my 6ft 2in fit and healthy husband could not escape. The children ask me why their dad died. Obviously, he died due to smoke inhalation, but I guess the picture is still not clear. The contact and support from officials in Morocco and the UK have been very limited, and I have had to instruct lawyers to find answers and hold the hotel to account. This process is ongoing, and I hope it will eventually bring me and our boys closure."
Chris Deacon further elaborated on the situation: "Following the hotel’s defense in the High Court proceedings, my client is now facing the prospect of a fight on liability as the hotel attempts to renege on what was understood to be an admission of liability made pre-proceedings. This is a source of considerable distress for Mrs. Barnes and her family. My client acknowledges the diligent efforts made by the coroner in trying to establish the facts surrounding Anthony’s death, despite the challenging circumstances and limited cooperation from Moroccan authorities. We are still seeking the written verdict of the Moroccan court following a criminal trial last year. It is crucial that lessons are learned from this incident to ensure that no one’s life is endangered in such a manner again."
As reported by stewartslaw.com.
