Two guests at a luxury five-star hotel in Loch Lomond, Scotland died this week as the hotel was engulfed in flames.
The couple was identified as freelance travel writer Simon Midgley, 32, and his boyfriend Richard Dyson, 38, a television producer.
The horrendous fire at the Cameron House Hotel broke out at 6 a.m. on Sunday and devoured several floors in just a matter of minutes. Guests had no time to evacuate and fled outside in their sleeping clothes.
The cause of the blaze has not yet been determined.
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Simon worked as a freelance writer for the London Evening Standard, writing about travel and culture.
He was sent to the hotel by his paper in order to research and write a web article about the property.
His sister, Nicky Midgley, wrote on Facebook:
“It’s with a heavy heart I write this but this dreadful tragedy has taken two amazing beautiful hearted soul mates from me, my heartbroken Mum and brother today.
Reading all your lovely kind words we are grateful. Thank you to all those who bravely made the effort to save them.
Sleep tight…Fly high xxxxxxxxxx”
Simon’s Instagram showed the couple relaxing at the hotel with the caption “home for the weekend.”
Becky Holmes, a university friend of Richard, told MailOnline:
“He was an amazing man, a fantastic friend and he said to me very, very often how he had met the man of his dreams and was living in bliss. I was so happy for them and it’s an utter, utter tragedy that this has happened.”
jhon_siders
5 star hotel flames spread that fast ? that means no sprinkler system and I would guess no or not working fire alarm system masonry walls old wood framed building a fire trap just like all of the new affordable apartments being built around here with no fire walls one burned under construction was being finished off the sprinkler system failed whole thing burnt and the fire station was across the street !
leobaga
I remember the The Station nightclub fire was engulfed in just 5 minutes. Most likely they don’t have sprinklers and have poor contraction materials that are highly flammable.
galileo
Houses built in the 18th Century do not, as a rule, come with sprinkler systems. Yes, sadly 2 died, but 200 others did not, so keeping a perspective and not running off with wild fantasy ideas about a non-working fire alarm would be my suggestion. All hotels in the UK must adhere to strict standards when it comes to fire prevention, such as compulsory fire doors and having an alarm system that is regularly inspected and tested.
Heywood Jablowme
@leobaga: Old doesn’t necessarily = “poor construction materials.” Fires were extremely common in the 18th/19th century, before electric light, and it lasted this long. (Or think of a typical earthquake in Turkey where ALL the modern buildings get pancaked, while the local church/mosque built before the year 1000 remains standing.)
galileo: But the alarm system may have worked properly and they were overcome by smoke, or just couldn’t see the exit?
leobaga
@heywood, I stand corrected.
jhon_siders
The average structure fire doubles every minute it does not take long ex VFD member one time chief 2nd class FF cert Is it possible that they were being grandfathered ? subject to renew every 2 years ?? The steamboat Delta Queen was all wood a beautiful boat but the Coast guard regulations prohibited the use as a passenger vessel they gave them several extensions before ordering her not to be sailed any longer . Older buildings have had a long time to dry out and burn very fast these structures are often timber framed and have masonry walls some supporting ones inside too they trap heat which accelerates the fire until it vents Just because they should have alarms and be tested does not mean it worked Older buildings here that are used as public venues have to install sprinklers but some get those extensions a disaster waiting to happen .
Kangol
Very sad news. RIP to both of these men.
TipTop
18th Century or not. Alarm or not. If you’re a hotel in a western country laws should make you have sprinkler system. No excuse. horrible way to die. Sympathy for the family and friends. Just awful
GayEGO
Such horrific news, my heart goes out to their families!
trickster3737
I call murder. 200 people got out..but only the gay couple died. BULLSHIT.
Curtispsf
I call BULLSHIT on your bullshit. Next thing you know, you’ll be saying that space aliens have taken over Donald Trump’s mind and body. Or HAVE they?
angelicamandy
All hotel in the UK must hold fast to strict principles with regards to fire aversion for example mandatory fire doors and having an alert framework that is consistently examined and tried. Cheap Write my Essay
Thomas Loom
I totally agree how they were the only ones that died. Conspiracy.