Care home and charity charged over boat deaths

A care home and charitable trust have been charged with corporate manslaughter after two people drowned when a leaking boat capsized during a day trip.

A "wheelyboat" designed for wheelchair users capsized on Roadford Lake, near Okehampton, Devon, on 8 June 2022 resulting in six people entering the water.

Alex Wood, 43, and Alison "Ali" Tilsley, 63, both from west Devon, died while a woman in her 50s was seriously injured.

Devon and Cornwall Police said Burdon Grange Care Home and Bude-based South West Lakes Trust had been charged with corporate manslaughter and an offence under the Health and Safety at Work Act.

The care home had been charged with an offence under Section 2 of the Health and Safety at Work Act, that is related to an alleged failure to ensure, as far as was reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare of its employees, police said.

It added the trust had been charged with an offence under Section 3 of the Health and Safety at Work Act, relating to an alleged failure to conduct its undertaking in such a way as to ensure, so far as was reasonably practicable, that persons not in its employment were not exposed to risks to their health or safety.

A court hearing is due to take place at Bristol Magistrates' Court on 11 November.

Malcolm McHaffie, of the special crime division, said: "Our prosecutors have worked to establish that there is sufficient evidence to bring this case to court and that it is in the public interest to pursue criminal proceedings.

"We have worked carefully with Devon and Cornwall Police as they carried out their investigation.

"Our thoughts remain with the families of Alison Tilsley and Alex Wood at this time."

A spokeswoman for Burdon Grange Care Home Limited described the incident in which two residents died as tragic.

"Our thoughts remain with the families of the two residents who died and with everyone affected by the tragedy," she said.

"We remain committed to providing safe, compassionate and high-quality care for our residents and to supporting their families and our team."

She added that, as legal proceedings were active, it would not be appropriate for the company to comment further at this time.

Follow BBC Devon on X, Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to spotlight@bbc.co.uk.