10 hours ago
Manager sues for £250k after being thrown into luxury hotel pool
An events manager is suing her former bosses for more than £250,000 after she was thrown into a swimming pool by drunken salesmen at a hotel in Mauritius.
Chloe Hewitt, 26, who claimed she landed on broken glass, sustained nerve damage and required two operations after being flung into the water at an after-party on June 4 2022.
The party followed an event organised by Herbalife, a health drinks brand.
Ms Hewitt, of Weybridge, Surrey, is suing the company's European arm for damages on the basis that it had not done enough to ensure the boozy event was safe.
The Uxbridge-based Herbalife, which sells weight loss shakes and other nutritional products, denies liability, claiming the after-party was not organised by the company.
Ms Hewitt, who began working for the company in June 2020 in its regional promotions department, was sent to Mauritius's five-star Paradis Hotel for a training and team-building event.
Matthew Chapman KC, acting on behalf of Ms Hewitt, said her accident happened at the event's 'farewell party', which included dinner, a DJ and a free bar.
'At around midnight on 4 June 2022, the DJ continued to play music and the free bar continued to serve drinks,' he said.
'The dance floor was located next to the resort swimming pool. Drinks were provided in glasses, rather than plastic containers and there was broken glass on and around the dance floor. Some of the party-goers were exhibiting obvious signs of intoxication. There were no security staff on duty.
'The claimant was then pushed forcefully and unexpectedly from behind and back into the swimming pool. The claimant was completely submerged under the water and the force of her entry carried her to the base of the swimming pool where she caught her foot on an object lying there and felt an immediate, sharp pain.
'The claimant had caught her foot on broken glass debris, which was on the bottom of the swimming pool, having found its way there from glasses containing drinks served at the farewell party.'
'She could have gone to bed'
Mr Chapman said his client had been left with 'significant pain and stiffness, loss of sensation and loss of movement' in her right foot, which is likely to be permanent.
Herbalife claimed it is not responsible for its members, who run independent businesses selling its products, and that Ms Hewitt was off the clock when the accident occurred.
Rory Holmes, representing Herbalife, said: 'Once the farewell party ended, the claimant's time was her own. She was no longer on duty.
'The claimant was naturally free to spend her personal time however she wanted – she could have gone to bed, she could have gone for a walk in the hotel grounds, she could have chosen to be on her own, she could have chosen to socialise with whomever she wished.
'The defendant does not condone the actions of the distributors who threw members of the group into the pool,' he added.
The case is expected to go to trial later this year.
