Moroccan Spa Negligence
Moroccan Hotel Sued for Negligence After Deadly Spa Fire Kills UK Man
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A hotel employee also died in the blaze that killed Barnes, underscoring the broader human cost of the fire at Jaal Ryad’s spa.
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Barrister Matthew Chapman KC said the spa and hotel were exposed to a foreseeable risk of harm and death, arguing negligent mismanagement of the hotel and its spa facilities.
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The fire involved smoke rising from the spa’s domed roof, with thick, acrid smoke hampering rescue attempts for Barnes and hotel staff.
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The barrister also claimed the spa used materials not fire resistant/retardant and there were too few fire extinguishers, highlighting potential structural safety failings.
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The spa was described as labyrinthine, complicating evacuation and leaving Barnes unable to escape despite staff and emergency responders arriving on scene.
The widow of British businessman Anthony Barnes is suing a luxury Moroccan hotel for more than £500,000 after her husband died in a spa fire in Marrakech in March 2023. Barnes was receiving a massage at the Jaal Ryad Resort Hotel when the fire broke out, filling the spa with thick, acrid smoke that blocked his escape, according to ITV News.
Rachel Barnes is taking Hotel Des Idrissides — which trades as the Jaal Ryad — to the UK High Court. She alleges the hotel's negligence directly caused her husband's death. A hotel employee also died in the same blaze, according to Mirror.
Fire Safety Failures Alleged Across the Luxury Spa
Barrister Matthew Chapman KC argued the hotel exposed guests to a foreseeable risk of death. He told the court the spa had no working fire alarms, no evacuation lighting, and no CCTV, according to ITV News. Emergency services were also not called promptly after the fire started.
Chapman also alleged the spa used materials that were not fire resistant or fire retardant. There were too few fire extinguishers on site. He said these failures amounted to negligent mismanagement of both the hotel and its spa facilities, according to Yabiladi.
Labyrinthine Spa Layout Trapped Barnes Inside
The spa's layout was described in court as labyrinthine — a maze-like design that made it extremely difficult to escape. Smoke rose through the spa's domed roof, cutting visibility to almost nothing, according to Mirror. Staff and firefighters who arrived on scene could not reach Barnes in time.
Barnes was on a business trip with colleagues when he was killed, according to ITV News. Despite rescue workers entering the building, the thick smoke made navigation inside the spa nearly impossible. He was unable to find a way out before he was overcome.
Hotel Denies Wrongdoing as UK Inquest Ruled Death Accidental
Hotel Des Idrissides denies any negligence or breach of duty. The hotel has pushed back against all claims made by Rachel Barnes. A full High Court hearing has not yet been scheduled, according to Streamline Feed.
UK inquests previously ruled Barnes' death was accidental. They found that smoke-filled conditions inside the spa blocked his escape route. The inquest findings did not, however, prevent Rachel Barnes from pursuing a civil damages claim in the courts, according to Head Topics.
Case Puts Global Spotlight on Hotel Spa Safety Standards
The lawsuit raises hard questions about fire safety at luxury hotels abroad. The Jaal Ryad is a five-star resort, yet the court heard it lacked basic safeguards that most venues are expected to have. Rachel Barnes is seeking over £500,000 in damages, according to Yabiladi.
The case highlights how UK citizens injured or killed at foreign hotels can still pursue legal claims in British courts. Chapman argued the risk of harm at the spa was entirely foreseeable and preventable. The outcome could set an important precedent for international hospitality venues serving British guests, according to Head Topics.
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