Newark mum will keep fighting for justice after daughter's accidental death ruling upheld

Louisiana Brooke Dolan died in Lincolnshire in 2021

Author: Charlotte LinnecarPublished 22nd Nov 2024

The mum of a 2 year old Newark girl - who died in a caravan fire on the Lincolnshire Coast - says she's devastated that an "accidental" death ruling is being upheld.

Natasha Broadley and her four children went on getaway to Ingoldmells in 2021 - that's when her youngest, Louisianna Brooke Dolan, died.

The coroner recorded the finding in 2023 but she contests this:

"It's been 39 months since Louisiana's gone, and she would have been 6 this Saturday. So it's hit me at the wrong time, but nothing the right time. It just needs to be right and it's just given more power really to keep going.

"It's just not fair really because me and my family are paying the consequences, just of going on holiday. To be honest with you, it's hit me like a tonne of bricks but I'm not going to give up, I'm going to give it my all."

A review has been taking place which the Fire Minister, Dame Diana Johnson revealed came to the same conclusion. She declined to comment further.

While, Robert Jenrick - the MP for Newark says he'll be writing to the Attorney General requesting it is reconsidered. He said:

"I’m deeply disappointed that the investigation has not led to a criminal prosecution. I know that this will be painful for Natasha, who deserves justice and the knowledge this couldn’t happen again. I will be writing to the Attorney General requesting this is reconsidered. My thoughts are with Natasha and her whole family as they continue to deal with the challenges of this truly heartbreaking tragedy.”

Our Senior reporter Charlotte Linnecar asked Natasha was it was like seeing the letter, come through the post:

"It was sat on the side for half an hour, I was debating whether to open it or not, but then I just went for it... I knew at the start, when I was reading it that it wasn't good news. It just, it broke my heart reading it to be honest with you.

"She was the funniest character and the most caring you could ever imagine. Just one in a million."

Last year, in June, we joined Natasha in heading down to London, as she met with her MP Robert Jenrick and the then Fire Minister, Chris Philp.

You can read more about that trip here.

She's been campaigning for better fire safety in caravans.

"It's warming knowing Louisiana's made a few changes, it is very warming to know the whole nation who're stopping in caravan will now be safer. But I just don't think it's enough. She's the one that deserves justice, because she'd not here and I'm going to give it my all."

In the letter from Dame Diana Johnson, shared with us, said a new legal requirement for Responsible Persons to record their fire risk assessments in full which should assist fire and rescue authorities in building an evidence base to support compliance or non-compliance with the FSO has been introduced.

Last year new guidance on fire safety in small short-term holiday let accommodation was published and close work with the tourism industry to promote this has taken place, plus the importance of fire safety more generally.

The Caravan industry is also producing their own guidance focused on fire safety in this specific type of holiday accommodation. In addition, LFRA continue to operate their initiative regarding prevention messaging particularly ahead of main tourist seasons with a focus on caravan safety along the coast.

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