House buyer, 66, sues after falling through decking during viewing

House buyer, 66, sues professor for £200,000 after she fell through the decking of his chalet as an estate agent showed her around the property

• EXCLUSIVE: Gillian Lee crashed through decking while viewing property in Ely
• She was viewing Scandinavian-style lodge at Isleham Marine, Cambridgeshire
• 66-year-old suffered multiple fractures and needed to be airlifted to hospital
• Ms Lee is suing owners  for ‘negligence’ in failing to ‘routinely inspect’ decking

A woman house-buyer who was being shown around the gardens of a luxury lakeside chalet by an estate agent dramatically crashed through decking – and is now suing the vendors for £200,000.

The freak accident happened as Gillian Lee, 66, her husband and an estate agent were looking around the grounds of the £300,000 waterfront Scandinavian-style lodge at Isleham Marine near Ely in Cambridgeshire with a view to buying it.

The details of the shocking became public after Mrs Lee took legal action against the owners of the chalet seeking compensation of at least £200,000.

Mrs Lee is blaming the property’s owners and vendors, eminent pharmaceuticals scientist Professor Peter York and his wife Jo, for ‘negligence’ in failing to ‘routinely inspect’ and repair allegedly rotten timbers. 

It is unclear whether they will defend the legal claim.

The freak accident happened as Gillian Lee (pictured), 66, her husband and an estate agent were looking around the grounds of the £300,000 waterfront Scandinavian-style lodge at Isleham Marine near Ely in Cambridgeshire with a view to buying it

The horse-lover crashed through the wooden boards (pictured) she suffered multiple fractures so severe she needed to be airlifted to hospital where she was to spend months

The details of the shocking became public after Mrs Lee took legal action against the owners of the chalet (pictured) seeking compensation of at least £200,000

Mrs Lee is blaming the property’s (pictured) owners and vendors, eminent pharmaceuticals scientist Professor Peter York and his wife Jo, for ‘negligence’ in failing to ‘routinely inspect’ and repair allegedly rotten timbers

The horse-lover crashed through the wooden boards she suffered multiple fractures so severe she needed to be airlifted to hospital where she was to spend months.

A High Court writ reveals that she suddenly plunged through decking at the top of a four feet high staircase outside the raised door of the lodge when it gave way under her.

Professor York who is an emeritus professor at the University of Bradford’s School of Pharmacy had owned the lodge, along with his wife, for many years and used it as a holiday retreat.

Professor York (pictured) who is an emeritus professor at the University of Bradford’s School of Pharmacy had owned the lodge

The Yorks finally sold the property for £280,000 in July 2020 to another couple from Essex who also use it as a holiday home. It is now thought to be worth around £300,000.

The home on a cul-de-sac called Kingfisher is one of 112 Swedish-style lodges enjoying tranquil waterfront views at the 53 acre marina site beside the River Lark which is a popular spot for anglers and nature lovers.

The writ accuses the Yorks of negligently failing to maintain the decking properly and allegedly failing to routinely inspect it to identify rotten and structurally unsound supporting posts.

It also says the couple failed to have sufficient regard to the wetland environment around the lodge and the likely ‘corrosive impact’ it would have on the decking

Describing the accident, the writ tells how Mrs Lee and her husband were being shown around by an estate agent from Balmforth, based in nearby Mildenhall.

The legal document states: ‘She was following her husband who had begun to descend the stairs when suddenly and without warning, the decking collapsed causing her to fall through the void between the steps and the house.’

The home (pictured) on a cul-de-sac called Kingfisher is one of 112 Swedish-style lodges

The writ accuses the Yorks of negligently failing to maintain the property’s (pictured) decking properly and allegedly failing to routinely inspect it to identify rotten and structurally unsound supporting posts

She is claiming compensation, likely to be more than £200,000, while reserving the right to receive a higher figure if her condition worsens. Pictured: The kitchen inside the chalet

Mrs Lee’s left leg remains one inch shorter than her right, meaning she needs future leg lengthening surgery and requires specialist orthotic footwear. Pictured: The kitchen inside the chalet

The writ describes her as having sustained ‘life threatening and life changing injuries’. Pictured: Inside the chalet 

She is continuing to have physiotherapy to assist her mobility and remains ‘reliant on others for many aspects of daily living being unable to access many areas of her home or the community’. Pictured: Inside the chalet

The Yorks sold the property (pictured: One of the bedrooms) for £280,000 in July 2020 to another couple from Essex who also use it as a holiday home. It is now thought to be worth around £300,000

The writ alleges that the Yorks failed to replace supporting posts and timber structures on the decking ‘before rotting to the point of collapse’. Pictured: The conservatory of the chalet

It also says that they failed to fence off the decking or give any ‘adequate warning’ that it was at risk of collapse while she was a ‘lawful visitor to the property’ and had a right to be ‘reasonably safe’. Pictured: The outside of the property

The lodges enjoy tranquil waterfront views at the 53 acre marina site beside the River Lark

The area, set in beautiful green countryside, is a popular spot for anglers and nature lovers

Mrs Lee suffered multiple ankle fractures and five broken ribs, as well as chest and shoulder injuries in her fall at 12.15pm on May 24, 2019.

She was flown by air ambulance to Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Cambridge after the incident at the idyllic Riverside Island Marina resort development in Isleham near Ely, Cambridgeshire.

Mrs Lee who lives with her husband near Debden, Essex, initially spent more than five weeks in a medically induced coma.

She went on to develop multiple serious conditions including double pneumonia in her lungs and sepsis in her leg during a seven month stay in hospital.

She is claiming compensation, likely to be more than £200,000, while reserving the right to receive a higher figure if her condition worsens – which, according to the wit, could ultimately see her needing to have her leg amputated if her health deteriorates further.

Mrs Lee (pictured here with singer Olly Murs) suffered multiple ankle fractures and five broken ribs, as well as chest and shoulder injuries in her fall at 12.15pm on May 24, 2019.

Mrs Lee (pictured left, on the right, and also right) who lives with her husband near Debden, Essex, initially spent more than five weeks in a medically induced coma. She went on to develop multiple serious conditions including double pneumonia in her lungs and sepsis in her leg during a seven month stay in hospital

The writ describes her as having sustained ‘life threatening and life changing injuries’.

Mrs Lee’s left leg remains one inch shorter than her right, meaning she needs future leg lengthening surgery and requires specialist orthotic footwear.

She is continuing to have physiotherapy to assist her mobility and remains ‘reliant on others for many aspects of daily living being unable to access many areas of her home or the community’.

The writ says: ‘It is now unlikely that the Claimant will ever be able to walk more than short distances again and she will always struggle with stairs.’

It adds: ‘In addition to her physical injuries the Claimant has suffered significant and persistent psychological symptoms for which she continues to require treatment.

‘The Claimant will obtain expert psychiatric evidence in due course.’

The writ alleges that the Yorks failed to replace supporting posts and timber structures on the decking ‘before rotting to the point of collapse’.

It also says that they failed to fence off the decking or give any ‘adequate warning’ that it was at risk of collapse while she was a ‘lawful visitor to the property’ and had a right to be ‘reasonably safe’.

Neither Mrs Lee nor the Yorks responded to requests for comment. Lawyers representing the Yorks also declined to comment.

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