Newark mum who lost her daughter in a caravan fire is urging parents to check their smoke alarms as they head away this summer

Natasha Broadley was with her 4 children in Ingoldmells, when a blaze ripped through their holiday home, killing Louisianna Brook Dolan

Image of Natasha (right) and her sister-in-law (left)
Author: Charlotte LinnecarPublished 26th Jul 2023

As the summer holidays get underway, a mum from Newark who lost her daughter in a caravan fire is urging parents to check their smoke alarms.

Natasha Broadley was away with her 4 children in Lincolnshire when a fire broke out in their holiday home killing two-year-old Louisiana Brooke-Dolan.

It happened in Ingoldmells, back in 2021.

She tells us she'll never give up fighting for change:

"You just don't think you're going to be saving your family when you come out of the shower

"There are people sat in chalets right now, people on holidays right now not knowing a smoke alarm might not be working.

"I feel like going back to Skegness and knocking on every caravan door with a battery.

"But I'm not ready for Skegness yet."

"Me and my daughter - we got in the shower and you just don't think you're going to be saving your family when you come out of the shower.

"I still didn't think there was a fire when my daughter said she smelt smoke.

"You have to check your family's safety as well

"Your brain doesn't click into fires - you just don't think.

"When I came out the bathroom - my gosh the fire was there.

"I look at these holiday sites now very differently.

"I feel like they're - you're taking your own risk site - that's what I want to call them.

"You really think you're booking a caravan to go away and you have to check all your safety.

"While you're there you have to check your family's safe as well."

Last month we travelled to Westminster with Natasha as she campaigns for better fire safety in caravans.

The MP for Newark, Robert Jenrick backed the campaign by the mum to make smoke alarms mandatory in all caravans and for better fire safety measures.

Natasha went to Westminster in June, where she met with her MP, Robert Jenrick and the Fire Minister Chris Philp - she wants to see an overhaul of safety regulations.

Our reporter Charlotte Linnecar went with her.

It was Natasha's first time in the capital.

We've met with national bodies that represent caravan owners and park owners.

Charlotte spoke to Mr Jenrick about the campaign. He told us:

"As a result of our meetings Natasha and I have met with the national bodies that represent caravan owners and park owners."

"They have agreed to start a national campaign to disseminate information about the law and your responsibilities."

"Natasha is just a brilliant spokesperson for this."

"I want to ensure it doesn't happen again "

"She's such a brave person, hopefully the work she will do will ultimately save someone's life and make sure this situation doesn't happen again."

"If we can do something - even just in Lincolnshire - that ensures the caravan parks are safer, people are taking their responsibilities seriously then we will have done a good deed."

"If we can do that on a national basis then all the better."

"I want to try and ensure it doesn't happen again - lots of people go to Lincolnshire caravan parks and we want them to be safe."

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