![Pinterest](https://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=https://uknews.evprotec.com/i-watched-in-horror-as-my-family-perished-in-forgotten-seaside-inferno-that-killed-50-im-haunted-by-tragic-phonecall/&media=https://uknews.evprotec.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/newspress-collage-23025664-1689160543900.jpg&description=FIRE AND FURY I watched in horror as my family perished in 'forgotten' seaside inferno that killed 50… I'm haunted by tragic phonecall WAVING off her parents and younger sister as they boarded a ferry to the Isle of Man, newlywed Heather Lea had no idea it would be the last time she'd see them. Days later they - along with 47 others - perished when the popular Summerland leisure centre in the island's capital, Douglas, went up in flames on August 2, 1973. 16 The complex was a magnet for families Credit: Bridgeman Images 16 The horrific fire raged through the building Credit: Bridgeman Images The inferno, which killed 11 children and injured 100 people, was the worst peacetime loss of life in a fire since The Blitz. Yet no criminal charges were ever brought, despite an inquiry finding a catalogue of shocking errors, and a verdict of 'death by misadventure' was given to those who died. They include Heather's mum and dad Elizabeth and Richard Cheetham, 51, and 13-year-old sister June. Heather, now 69, and husband Reg, 74, is backing a campaign calling on the Isle of Man Government to apologise, and a debate will be held today in the House of Commons ahead of the 50th anniversary of the tragedy. The bereaved families argue had lessons been learned from the disaster, it could have prevented the Grenfell Tower blaze which killed 72. Speaking to The Sun, Heather says the pain of losing her family aged 19 has "never gone away". 'It's always there in the back of your mind, all the 'what ifs',' Heather explains. 'You don't think about it every single minute of every day, but at Christmas, on birthdays, when our two daughters got married and got through university, I wonder what my mum and dad would have thought of them. 16 Reg and Heather lost three members of their family Credit: Supplied 16 Elizabeth, 51, and 13-year-old June perished in the Summerland fire (pictured on the crazy golf course, near where it started) Credit: Supplied 'I'm sure they would have loved them. My l){kind=link}
WAVING off her parents and younger sister as they boarded a ferry to the Isle of Man, newlywed Heather Lea had no idea it would be the last time she’d see them.
Days later they – along with 47 others – perished when the popular Summerland leisure centre in the island’s capital, Douglas, went up in flames on August 2, 1973.
The inferno, which killed 11 children and injured 100 people, was the worst peacetime loss of life in a fire since The Blitz.
Yet no criminal charges were ever brought, despite an inquiry finding a catalogue of shocking errors, and a verdict of ‘death by misadventure’ was given to those who died.
They include Heather’s mum and dad Elizabeth and Richard Cheetham, 51, and 13-year-old sister June.