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  "path": "/2026/05/21/husband-sues-glamping-firm-wife-died-fire-saving-children-28462118/",
  "publishedAt": "2026-05-21T11:21:16.000Z",
  "site": "https://metro.co.uk",
  "tags": [
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  "textContent": "Ruth Pingree died saving her children from a fire, passing them to her husband Roland who is now suing a glamping campsite (Picture: Champion News)\n\nThe husband of a barrister who died while helping her children escape a fire at a glamping site is suing the company that ran it for more than £200,000.\n\nRuth Pingree, 42, died during the family holiday at Happy Days Retro Vacations in Suffolk in July 2022.\n\nHer husband, Roland, is bringing the claim on behalf of her estate and their family, from Thames Ditton, alleging failures in fire safety at the site near Saxmundham, which has since closed.\n\nCoroner Darren Stewart previously found that the fire may have started from stray embers or a cigarette butt left outside the caravan, which was surrounded by plastic astroturf.\n\nThe fire broke out some time before 4.30am on July 24, setting the exterior alight spreading inwards. The external aluminium of the caravan got so hot that the door became jammed shut.\n\nWhen the children woke Mr Pingree up, the caravan was filled with a black, acrid smoke. He climbed out while Ruth stayed inside, passing the children to him.\n\nRuth, described by Mr Stewart as someone ‘who was always there for her family’, quickly became overcome by smoke and flames.\n\nThe aluminium cladding became so hot that the door was wedged shut (Picture: East Anglia News Service)\n\nIn his claim, Mr Pingree said the smoke alarm failed to sound and that the site’s fire risk assessment was inadequate because it did not consider the flammability of the awning, artificial grass, or materials inside the caravan.\n\nJoel Kendall, barrister for Happy Days Retro Vacations Ltd, said the firm deny the allegations.\n\nHe said that Ruth was twice over the drink-drive limit and Mr Pingree was wearing earplugs at the time.\n\nMr Kendall added that fire safety measures were in place and that there was no requirement for a specific assessment of the items listed by Mr Pingree.\n\nHe also said that the smoke alarm was working and Ruth’s alcohol consumption would have ‘significantly impaired’ her reactions and increased the level of noise needed to wake her up.\n\nThe family had joined friends around a firepit that may have been the cause of the fire (Picture: East Anglia News Service)\n\nThe defence added that there were several windows that could have been used as escape routes and that one had been used.\n\nMr Pingree maintains that the failures in fire safety and risk management created a dangerous environment that contributed to Ruth’s death.\n\nShe was described by her family as: ‘Someone who had a quality about them that drew you to her with her smile, her laugh, her heart, her vulnerability and her brilliant mind.\n\n‘She was a person who would make you feel loved and valued and appreciated. A one in a million. A person who was always there for her family and friends and utterly devoted to her children.’\n\nA pre-trial hearing will take place at a later date unless the case is settled beforehand.\n\nComment now Comments \nAdd Metro as a Preferred Source on Google\nAdd as preferred source\n",
  "title": "Husband sues glamping firm after wife died in fire while saving her children"
}