A 57 YEAR OLD WOMAN WAS AWARDED #25,000 AT THE HIG

A 57 YEAR OLD WOMAN WAS AWARDED #25,000 AT THE HIGH COURT
FOR SEVERE BURN INJURIES SHE SUFFERED IN AN HORRIFIC ACCIDENT WHEN

HER CLOTHING WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES FROM A CALOR GAS FIRE.

MRS LILLIAN BROOKS, 57, FROM EGLINGTON ROAD, PLUMSTEAD, WAS
WORKING AS A RECEPTIONIST FOR JOHNSON AND JORGENSON LTD, A GLASS
MANUFACTURING COMPANY IN HERRINGHAM RD, CHARLTON, WHEN THE
ACCIDENT OCCURED.

DURING THE HEARING SHE DESCRIBED HER TERRIFYING ORDEAL WHICH

ON FEARY 2, 1981, WHEN HER SKIRT WAS IGNITED BY THE FIRE AS

SHE WAS ANSWERING A TELEPHONE CALL.

MRS BROOKS WEPT AS SHE RELIVED THE MOMENT WHEN SHE REALISED

THAT HER CLOTHING WAS AFLAME: ‘I TRIED TO UNDO MY SKIRT.

I TRIED

TO GET A PAIR OF SCISSORS BUT I COULDN’T GET THE DRAWER OPEN, SO I

RAN,’ THE COURT HEARD.

THE NEXT THING SHE CAN REMEMBER IS WAKING UP IN HOSPITAL ON

APRIL 14, HER WEDDING ANNIVERSARY, TWO MONTHS LATER.

MRS BROOKS SPENT FOUR AND A HALF MONTHS IN THE QUEEN

ELIZABETH HOSPITAL, WOOLWICH BEFORE FINALLY BEING DISCHARGED ON

JUNE 16, 1981.

SHE SUFFERED BURNS WHICH EXTENDED FROM HER CALF TO HER

SHOULDER.

A FURTHER TWO YEARS OF TOTAL DEPENDANCY ON HER HUSBAND

AND FAMILY FOLLOWED AS SHE WAS UNABLE TO COOK, SHOP, BATHE OR EVEN

GO TO THE LAVATORY ALONE.

MRS BROOKS TOLD THE COURT OF HOW SHE HAD CHANGED FROM A

‘FUN- LOVING’ WOMAN, REGULARLY SWIMMING, DANCING AND ENJOYING FAMILY
HOLIDAYS INTO A LONELY RECLUSE, ALMOST TRAPPED INTO HER OWN HOME.

IT IS NOW ALMOST FIVE YEARS SINCE THE ACCIDENT BUT THE FIRST
DEGREE BURNS ARE STILL ‘VERY PAINFUL,’ AND SHE UNABLE TO WEAR ANY
WARM CLOTHING AS ANYTHING TIGHT AGAINST HER SKIN IS UNBEARABLE.

SHE TOLD THE COURT HER RELATIONSHIP WITH HER HUSBAND HAS

ALSO BEEN VERY ADVERSLY AFFECTED.

IN REPLY TO HER COUNSEL MISS KATE HUDSON QC MRS BROOKS
WHISPERED: ‘HE’S SCARED TO TOUCH ME .

.

.

WE ARE LIKE TWO STRANGERS
IN THE HOUSE.

‘
ALTHOUGH MRS BROOKS WAS FOUND TO BE PARTLY LIABLE FOR THE
ACCIDENT THE AWARD OF #25,000 WAS MADE AGAINST JOHNSON AND
JORGENSON FOR A BREACH OF STATUORY DUTY AGAINST THE HEALTH AND
SAFETY AT WORK ACT, 1979.

ENDS