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Events / Accidents / Paulette Crookes Dies from Tapnell...
Accidents death inquest

Paulette Crookes Dies from Tapnell Farm Hot Tub

Analysis based on 7 articles · First reported Dec 03, 2025 · Last updated Dec 10, 2025

Sentiment
-20
Attention
1
Articles
7
Market Impact
General
Live prominence charts, article sentiment distribution, and event development timeline available on the Ergen Dashboard
Market Impact

This event has minimal direct impact on financial markets, as it primarily concerns a private company, Tapnell Farm, and a personal tragedy. However, it highlights potential reputational and legal risks for hospitality businesses offering amenities like hot tubs, which could lead to increased scrutiny and regulatory changes in the tourism industry.

hospitality tourism
Event Summary

Paulette Crookes, 70, died on March 8, 2020, from Legionnaires' disease, which an inquest jury concluded she contracted from a poorly maintained hot tub at Tapnell Farm on the United Kingdom — Isle of Wight. She had been celebrating her birthday with family at the rental property in February 2020 when they noticed a strange smell and cloudy, green water in the hot tub. Her daughters, Nicola Vaughan and Denise Scott, testified that no one was seen checking the water during their stay. After returning home, Paulette Crookes' condition deteriorated, leading to hospitalization, an induced coma, and ultimately her death. Environmental Health teams visited Tapnell Farm but found no positive legionella results from the specific hot tub, though other hot tubs on site had poor readings. The council decided not to pursue prosecution. Joanna Lloyd, the housekeeping manager, insisted she tested the water daily, but Coroner Caroline Sumeray questioned this claim. Chloe Baker, the accommodation manager, admitted to merely filing testing records without review. Following the incident, Tapnell Farm removed all hot tubs from the site in March 2020.

Entities Involved
per
Paulette Crookes
Paulette Crookes died from Legionnaires' disease contracted from a poorly maintained hot tub at Tapnell Farm, which was the central subject of the inquest.
Importance 100.0 Sentiment -100.0
oth
Tapnell Farm
Tapnell Farm is the holiday cottage where Paulette Crookes contracted Legionnaires' disease from a hot tub, leading to her death and subsequent inquest. The farm later removed all hot tubs.
Importance 90.0 Sentiment -50.0
per
Joanna Lloyd
Joanna Lloyd, the housekeeping manager at Tapnell Farm, was responsible for hot tub maintenance and insisted she tested the water daily, a claim questioned by the Coroner.
Importance 50.0 Sentiment -30.0
per
Caroline Sumeray
Caroline Sumeray is the Coroner who presided over the inquest into Paulette Crookes' death, guiding the jury and questioning witnesses.
Importance 40.0 Sentiment 0.0
per
Nicola Vaughan
Nicola Vaughan, Paulette Crookes' daughter, provided evidence at the inquest regarding the condition of the hot tub and her mother's illness.
Importance 30.0 Sentiment 0.0
per
Denise Scott
Denise Scott, another daughter of Paulette Crookes, testified at the inquest about the lack of hot tub maintenance and her mother's deteriorating condition.
Importance 30.0 Sentiment 0.0
per
Chloe Baker
Chloe Baker, Tapnell Farm's accommodation manager, stated she only filed hot tub testing records without reviewing them, which the Coroner suggested was not a professional approach to risk assessment.
Importance 20.0 Sentiment -10.0
loc
United Kingdom — Isle of Wight
The United Kingdom — Isle of Wight is the location of Tapnell Farm and where the inquest into Paulette Crookes' death was held.
Importance 20.0 Sentiment 0.0
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