Three arrested after ‘slapping workshop’ death at UK hotel
Three people have been arrested after a pensioner died at a ‘slapping workshop’ held at a country house hotel.
Danielle Carr-Gomm, a 71-year-old diabetic, died at Cleeve House in Seend in Wiltshire on October 20.
She was allegedly taking part in a workshop involving paida lajin therapy, which involves the patient being slapped or repeatedly slapping themselves.
Police said two men, aged 51 and 53, and a 64-year-old woman had been arrested on suspicion of manslaughter.
All three have been released on bail.
An inquest was opened and adjourned at Salisbury Coroner’s Court on Friday.
A Wiltshire Police spokeswoman said: "Police were called to an address in Seend in the early hours of 20 October following the sudden death of a woman.
"A post mortem has been carried out but the results were inconclusive. We await further toxicology tests."
A spokesman for Cleeve House said: "This was a very sad and shocking event.
"We are very sorry for the lady and her family."
The week-long course Mrs Carr-Gomm attended was run by Hongchi Xiao, originally from Beijing, who was questioned last year by police in Australia following the death of a seven-year-old boy with diabetes who was attending one of his workshops at the Ritz Hotel in Huntsville.
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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