Sources said the woman, who suffered burns to 40% of her body, has been in a "living hell" since the alleged incident
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NEED TO KNOW
- A 42-year-old woman was left with burns to 40 percent of her body after a visit to an escape room in the village of Cájar in the south of Spain
- Prosecutors are seeking two-to-three-year sentences for the owner and an employee of Villa Amparo
- It’s alleged the woman was tied up and doused with gasoline, which ignited when an employee held a lighter to her body
A woman who suffered serious burns to 40 percent of her body during a visit to an escape room in Spain has recalled the experience in court.
Prosecutors allege she was tied up and doused with gasoline, which ignited, at Villa Amparo, located in the village of Cájar in the south of Spain, local outlet El Mundo reported. In turn, they're seeking two-to-three-year sentences for the owner and an employee of the escape room.
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Villa Amparo was advertised as a "hardcore" escape room in which participants would try to escape by making their way past dangers and traps, per the newspaper.
The only risk organizers warned of was that clothes might be destroyed, so they advised visitors to wear older attire.
On June 27, 2022, the woman, reported by El Diario Vasco to be 42 years old, visited the escape room with five friends. Per El Mundo, she was doused with a liquid that was supposed to be water with a drop of gasoline, but was allegedly pure gasoline instead.
According to El Mundo, a lit lighter was held to her. She blew it out twice, but she was engulfed by flames the third time, the outlet reported.
The woman required treatment in intensive care and sustained burns to 40 percent of her body.
Almost four years on from the visit, she is unable to go outside without an umbrella to protect her from the sun, and she has required several surgeries that have left her with permanent scarring, El Mundo reported. Sources told the newspaper her life is now a "living hell."
A few days after the incident, Villa Amparo wrote in a statement on Facebook, translated from Spanish, that their "greatest concern" was the health of the woman and confirmed that they are cooperating with the authorities. It added that the facility would be suspending activity, and has not posted any updates online since.
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The Guardia Civil, one of Spain's national police forces, told PEOPLE that it took charge of the investigation and questioned three individuals along with their lawyers.
The force confirmed that a trial is currently underway.
On Monday, June 22, the woman recalled the alleged experience at the Criminal Court No. 5 of Granada, where the owner and an employee of the escape room are facing charges of serious bodily harm due to negligence, El Mundo reported.
She alleged that they ignored her warnings that the liquid smelled strongly of gasoline, and accused them of tying her to a chair as part of the ordeal.
The victim added, per La Razón, that she removed her shirt and her friend, who had been locked inside a coffin, shouted at her to "roll, roll."
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She explained she was unable to do anything else because she couldn't see through the smoke, until one of the accused sprayed her with a fire extinguisher and pulled her outside, where water was poured on her. This allegedly worsened her burns.
The employee testified that he had recently returned from vacation and used a pre-prepared mixture without thinking that its contents might have been incorrect, per La Razón.
Prosecutors are seeking two-year sentences, accusing the defendants of failing to uphold the "most basic duties of care" by not checking the composition of the liquid, according to the outlet.
However, the victim's private prosecution, represented by the HispaColex law firm, is seeking a three-year sentence, La Razón reported.
Villa Amparo is also accused of lacking safety measures, such as emergency exit signs, fire extinguishers suitable for fuel-based fires and panic buttons to allow participants to stop the game, per El Mundo.
It's also alleged that participants did not sign any sort of document or consent form outlining how the game would be played or setting out any potential risks, according to the newspaper.
The third individual, another employee of the escape room, saw the charges against them withdrawn after it was determined that he wasn't in direct contact with the liquid, nor did he take part in the events, El Mundo reported.
Both the public prosecution and the victim's private prosecutor have sought nearly €2 million in compensation for the woman. According to La Razón, this is being claimed in a civil proceeding, so the criminal case won't be delayed further.
A spokesperson for HispaColex told PEOPLE it is unable to issue any statements regarding the ongoing proceedings, but they said the firm expects the court's judgment to be delivered soon.
PEOPLE also reached out to Criminal Court No. 5 of Granada and the Granada Provincial Prosecutor's Office for comment but did not immediately hear back.
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