Two men passed away when a fire spread through a luxury 5-star hotel on the shores of Loch Lomond.
A fast spreading fire at the Cameron Hotel House in southern Scotland claimed the lives of a gay couple who were staying there.
Simon Midgley, a freelance travel writer and his 38-year-old partner Richard Dyson, a television producer, were vacationing in the region from London.
Together, the pair had traveled up from London to enjoy a sightseeing tour of Glasgow before making the trip north to the hotel.
Local reporting suggests the couple were the only two fatalities, although three other people were hospitalized as 200 people ran from the blazing fire.
As reported in the Daily Mail, “The cause of the fire is not yet known but the roof of the hotel has been extensively damaged.
Yesterday sources at the paper confirmed he (Midgley) was sent to the hotel on assignment to research a write-up for the publication's website.
Paying tribute to her brother today Mr. Midgley's devastated sister described the couple as ‘amazing beautiful hearted soulmates”.
Prior to the fire breaking out, Midgley posted pictures on his Instagram account describing Cameron House as “home for the weekend”.
They could be seen enjoying cocktails beside a fire, an outdoor hot tub and Christmas movies just hours before Monday's tragedy.
Details of the Fire
Sometime around 7 a.m., the fire alarm went off as flames engulfed the hotel complex’s main building. Many guests fled the building wearing nothing but nightclothes.
It took firefighters 12 hours to completely extinguish the flames.
The hotel is a favorite wedding venue with a highly popular restaurant. The 132-room luxury hotel is also a place where the Scottish national soccer team stays.
An investigation into what caused the fire is currently underway.
Nicky Midgley, sister of Simon, wrote on Facebook:
“It’s with a heavy heart I write this but this dreadful tragedy has taken two amazing beautiful hearted soul mates from me, my heartbroken Mum and brother today.
Reading all your lovely kind words we are grateful. Thank you to all those who bravely made the effort to save them.
Sleep tight…Fly high xxxxxxxxxx”
Becky Holmes, a university friend of Richard, told MailOnline:
“He was an amazing man, a fantastic friend and he said to me very, very often how he had met the man of his dreams and was living in bliss. I was so happy for them and it’s an utter, utter tragedy that this has happened.”
h/t: Daily Mail
