Woman, 42, Says She Was Tied Up and Doused with Gasoline Before Catching Fire in Escape Room Challenge: Prosecutors

A 42-year-old woman has been left with severe burns covering 40 per cent of her body following a traumatic incident at an escape room in Cájar, a village in southern Spain. The case is drawing significant attention, with prosecutors seeking two to three years of prison time for the escape room’s owner and one employee, who are both accused of serious bodily harm owing to negligence.

According to reports from local media, the woman’s ordeal unfolded at Villa Amparo, which was marketed as a “hardcore” escape room experience. Participants were promised an adventure involving various dangers and obstacles, yet were only cautioned that their clothing might be ruined, with the recommendation to wear older garments.

The incident occurred on June 27, 2022, when the woman visited the escape room alongside five friends. During the activity, she was allegedly tied to a chair and doused in a liquid that was claimed to be water with a drop of gasoline. However, witnesses assert that it was pure gasoline. During the game, an employee is reported to have ignited the gasoline after she blew out the flame twice. Tragically, on a third attempt, the flames caught hold, engulfing her in fire.

Following the horrific event, the woman required extensive treatment in an intensive care unit and has undergone several surgeries to address her injuries. Nearly four years later, she continues to deal with the consequences, including permanent scarring and extreme sensitivity to sunlight, necessitating her to carry an umbrella when outdoors. Friends and family described her ongoing condition as a “living hell,” highlighting the lasting impact on her quality of life.

Villa Amparo, in response to the incident, issued a statement on their Facebook page shortly after the event, expressing their primary concern for the victim’s well-being and confirming that they were cooperating fully with authorities. The facility announced a suspension of operations following the tragedy, and has not updated its social media since.

The Guardia Civil, Spain’s national police force, has initiated an investigation into the matter, interviewing three individuals, including the accused. As the trial unfolds, the court heard the victim’s account on June 22 at the Criminal Court No. 5 of Granada. She testified that prior to the ignition, she had raised concerns regarding the strong smell of gasoline and described her panic as the situation escalated. In her account, she noted that her friend, who was inside another prop, urged her to “roll, roll” to escape the smoke, but due to panic and disorientation, she struggled to find her way to safety. Eventually, an employee attempted to extinguish the flames with a fire extinguisher and pulled her outside, where water was subsequently poured on her burns, inadvertently worsening her injuries.

The defendant’s employee claimed during testimony that he had recently returned from holiday and had used a pre-prepared mixture without verifying its composition, which led to catastrophic consequences. Prosecutors have presented a case asserting that the defendants neglected their fundamental duty of care by failing to check the contents of the liquid before use.

In addition to the accusations concerning negligence, Villa Amparo is alleged to have lacked necessary safety measures, such as visible emergency exit signs, appropriate fire extinguishers to handle fuel-based fires, and panic buttons for participants to halt the game if necessary. Furthermore, it appears that participants were neither asked to sign any documentation nor provided with a risk assessment regarding the escape room’s activities.

One of the employees initially involved in the case has had the charges against him dropped after it was revealed that he was not directly responsible for the liquid or its ignition.

As part of the legal proceedings, both public prosecutors and the private prosecution for the victim, represented by HispaColex, are seeking substantial damages, amounting to nearly €2 million, although these claims will not delay the progression of the criminal case. HispaColex has indicated that while they cannot comment on the specifics of the case, they anticipate a verdict in the near future.

Inquiries regarding the matter have been made to the Criminal Court No. 5 of Granada and the Granada Provincial Prosecutor’s Office, but responses were not immediately forthcoming. The outcome of this troubling case is awaited with keen interest, as it raises further questions regarding safety protocols in entertainment venues.