'Blasé' care home manager fined £4,000 after two disabled residents drowned while still strapped into their wheelchairs during boat trip

Published: 01:51, 17 June 2026 | Updated: 01:52, 17 June 2026 A care home manager has been fined after two disabled residents drowned and one disabled resident was left seriously injured after their boat capsized on a lake, a court heard.  Janice Sowden, 60, previously pleaded guilty to failing to provide safe care and treatment that resulted in avoidable harm to wheelchair users Alexander Wood, Alison Tilsley and Kate Dart.  Father-of-four Mr Wood, 43, and 63-year-old Ms Tilsley were dragged under the water by the weight of their electric wheelchairs when the wheelyboat capsized on Roadford Lake in Lifton, north west Devon.  Ms Dart, who was in her 50s, suffered serious injuries when she was recovered face down in the water after the incident in June 2022.  The court previously heard that Burdon Grange Care Home Ltd did not carry out any risk assessments and their 'service user' clients were not fitted with life jackets and only had buoyancy aids. Burdon Grange Care Home Ltd admitted in October three charges of failing to provide care and treatment to service users in a safe way resulting in harm and loss on or before June 8, 2022. Ms Sowden, as the registered manager, was responsible for the health and safety of the trio, who were residents of the Burdon Grange Care Home in Beaworthy, Devon.  Exeter Magistrates' Court heard on Tuesday Sowden failed to assess the risks of the outing, which involved taking six people, all of whom were wheelchair users, from the care home to Roadford Lake Activity Centre.  Alison Tilsley, 63, was dragged under the water by the weight of their electric wheelchairs when the wheelyboat capsized on Roadford Lake in Lifton, north west Devon Father-of-four and wheelchair user Alexander Wood, 43, drowned on June 8, 2022 James Marsland, prosecuting, said: 'A wheelyboat, ie, a boat designed to carry wheelchair users, had been hired from the centre for a trip on the lake. 'Alexander Wood and Alison Tilsley, in particular, were strapped into electric wheelchairs without any means of being released from them.' The three victims had been on the second trip of the day in the wheelyboat when the vessel was turned to return and started to take on water and capsized.  Mr Marsland said Mr Wood and Ms Tilsley were 'drowned by the weight of their wheelchairs' as they pulled them under the water. Their bodies were found two days later. He said: 'Miss Sowden did not undertake any risk assessment in relation to the needs of the service users… Nor did she ensure that any such risk assessment did take place. 'This is a classic case of serious negligence.' There had been 22 prior day trip bookings on the huge lake which is 130 feet deep in parts - but they had not been for a while because of the pandemic.  Sowden, of Beaworthy, Devon, had been the registered manager of the care home since 2016 and was previously regarded as being 'caring' and 'diligent' in her work. Residents of the Burdon Grange care home in Beaworthy, Devon, had been on a day trip to the lake and were on the second trip of the day with three home staff  The huge lake is 130 feet deep in parts - and the care home had not been on a day trip there for a while because of the pandemic However, prosecutors said a 'cultural complacency' had developed at the home before the fatal incident and standards had deteriorated. District Judge Stuart Smith said the victims of the incident were 'extremely vulnerable' and that it should have been obvious that detailed health and safety checks were required before the trip.  He also criticised the lack of consideration given to the abilities of the staff accompanying the group, noting one member of staff could not swim. Describing Sowden as 'blase' about risk, the judge said she failed in her responsibilities to protect those in care. The court was also told that following the tragedy, Sowden attempted to create a false health and safety checklist for the boat trip in an effort to mislead investigators.  On Tuesday, she was ordered to pay £4,090, including a Government surcharge and £2,000 towards prosecution costs.  The care home - which has a £2.5million annual turnover - was previously fined £180,000 in total for the three charges, plus costs of £20,000.  The hearing was told Sowden, who has mobility issues, currently receives benefits and is likely to have to retrain for a new role outside the care sector.  Addressing the defendant, Judge Smith said: 'This case is nothing short of devastating… The lives of two much-loved residents, Alexander Wood and Alison Tilsley, have been lost. 'This was in no small part a direct consequence of your cavalier attitude to good health and safety practice. 'This incident has caused immeasurable grief to the families of Alex and Alison.' No comments have so far been submitted. 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