Lynn Strickland says she will never forget the night of the Summerland tragedy.
She was just 14 years old when along with her family she was enjoying an evening’s entertainment at the leisure complex on Douglas seafront, on August 2, 1973.
Mrs Strickland was originally from Liverpool and was on holiday with her mum, brothers Danny and Tom, and her younger sister Jean.
Her dad had died of cancer two weeks previously.
Mrs Strickland, who lives in Stanley Terrace, Douglas, said: ‘We loved the Isle of Man and I thought we were abroad just like my friends who had gone to Spain!
‘Up until the fire we had a great time and Summerland was the place to go for youngsters and families to have a fun time.
‘When the fire broke out I wasn’t really aware of it at first as me and my brother Tom were having fun and there didn’t seem to be any urgency.
‘I remember someone on the microphone saying not to panic, everything was OK.’
She said it was only when she saw the flames and the looks of terror on people’s faces that she realised it was serious.
‘I remember trying to hold on to Tom as we were getting crushed by the crowd and the force made me let go of his hand,’ she said.
‘We were pushed and squashed towards the side of the building but the doors wouldn’t open.
‘ We got herded and pushed about and somehow managed to get out the front of the building just before the doors shattered.’
She said she saw some terrible sights, including people on fire.
‘An image that has stayed with me was of a young man holding a girl in his arms,’ Mrs Strickland said.
‘His jacket had melted and I think the girl was dead, but I am not sure.
‘The holiday turned into a nightmare for my poor mum but thankfully Tom and I were alive.
‘I have definitely got a guardian angel.’
Mrs Strickland has lived in the island since 1980 with her husband Pete and has brought her three children up here.
She will be attending today’s memorial service at the Kaye Memorial Garden, in Douglas.
‘I love the island very much but I will never forget the night of the tragedy that was the Summerland fire,’ she said.
Mrs Strickland was one of about 3,000 holidaymakers who were inside the seven-storey building when the fire started, shortly before 8pm on August 2, 1973.
The fire was unintentionally started by three Liverpool boys who had broken into a kiosk next to the complex to smoke a cigarette.
