Overview
- Anthony Barnes, 48, became trapped when a fire broke out in the Jaal Riad Resort spa in Marrakech on March 22, 2023 after staff reported a small explosion.
- He had booked a massage around 3 p.m., and colleagues later saw smoke from the spa roof before identifying him on a stretcher removed from the building.
- Emergency crews arrived within about 20 minutes but struggled to gain entry and appeared to lack adequate breathing equipment, according to the coroner.
- A UK post-mortem found death from smoke inhalation with coronary atherosclerosis contributing, differing from an initial Moroccan autopsy that suggested carbon monoxide poisoning.
- The coroner recorded no indication the fire was started deliberately, and the specific cause of the blaze has not been established.