Premier Inn parent apologises to family of tourist scalded to death
Premier Inn’s owners Whitbread have apologised to the family of a woman who died five years ago after she was scalded in a shower at one of their hotel’s in Edinburgh.
The hotel chain is believed to have also paid compensation to the family, which had demanded a six-figure sum to pay for Kalyani Uthaman’s hospital bills.
Ms Uthaman, aged 59 and from India, died from multiple organ failure after spending six weeks in hospital in Scotland following the incident in August 2012 at the Premier Inn in Newcraighall.
However, the hotel chain has escaped criminal proceedings after the Crown Office decided in 2014 that it would not be in the public interest to hold a Fatal Accident Inquiry.
Ms Uthaman’s family had argued that Premier Inn had failed in its duty of care by not fitting a thermostatic mixing valve to regulate the water temperature of the shower.
A spokesman for Premier Inn said: "We are very sorry for the tragic accident that occurred to Ms Uthaman in 2012 and our thoughts are with her family.
"We take millions of bookings every year and we would like to reassure our guests that this was an isolated incident.
"We constantly monitor and regulate the water temperature of our showers in line with industry best practice, which is based on Health and Safety Executive regulatory guidance and NHS health care guidelines."
Premier Inn declined to confirm the amount of compensation paid to the Ms Uthaman’s family.
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
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