A care home manager has been spared jail time and ordered to pay £4,000 following the tragic drowning of two wheelchair-bound individuals in her care. Alexander Wood, 43, and Alison Tilsley, 63, lost their lives in an accident at Roadford Lake, Devon, when the wheelyboat they were on capsized. Another individual, Kate Date, suffered serious injuries during the incident.

Janice Sowden, the registered manager, admitted to failing to provide safe care and treatment that resulted in avoidable harm. She neglected to assess the risks of an outing in June 2022, where she took six wheelchair users from Burdon Grange Care Home to the lake.

During the court proceedings, it was revealed that the victims were strapped into electric wheelchairs on a wheely boat without a means of quick release. The boat started taking on water shortly after setting off, leading to the tragic deaths of Wood and Tilsley due to the weight of their wheelchairs pulling them underwater.

Sowden, who had been described as caring and diligent in her work, was found to have displayed negligence and complacency leading up to the incident. The judge emphasized the vulnerability of the care home residents and criticized Sowden for her lack of proper risk assessments and safety measures.

In an attempt to mislead investigators, Sowden fabricated evidence of health and safety considerations after the incident. As a result, she was fined £4,090, including a government surcharge and contribution to prosecution costs. The judge condemned Sowden’s disregard for health and safety practices, attributing the tragic loss of lives to her cavalier attitude.

Judge Stuart Smith expressed deep sorrow for the families of the deceased residents, highlighting the devastating impact of Sowden’s actions. He emphasized the importance of adhering to proper health and safety protocols, particularly when dealing with vulnerable individuals.