Three people have died as a care home in Dorset was evacuated and a hazard team mobilised.
Dorset Police has launched an investigation into the “unexplained” deaths, as the emergency services rushed to the Gainsborough Care Home in Swanage on Wednesday morning.
Ten ambulances were called, along with six fire crews, including two teams from neighbouring Hampshire, with residents in the care home relocated to a nearby church.
Four people were also taken to hospital, police said.
The home, run by Agincare, has 48 residents, all elderly and some with dementia.
Gas distribution company SGN said they were called to the care home earlier today as the national gas emergency service for the south of England.
“Our engineers are waiting for access to the building to complete safety checks,” a spokesperson said. “Our thoughts are with everyone who has been affected by this tragic incident.”
At this time there is nothing to indicate any risk to the wider public, police said.
Residents bring blankets to church housing evacuated care home residents
A Dorset councillor has said that evacuated care home residents were initially taken to All Saint’s Church, near the care home, and will be moved to other placements.
Gary Suttle told of local residents “kindly” coming into the church bringing blankets in acts of “great community support”.
Andy Gregory23 October 2024 13:58
Nothing to indicate risk to wider public, police say
The families of those who have died have been informed and the coroner has been notified, Dorset Police said.
“At this time there is nothing to indicate any risk to the wider public,” a spokesperson said.
Andy Gregory23 October 2024 13:53
Gas company SGN called to care home
Gas distribution company SGN said they were called to the care home earlier today as the national gas emergency service for the south of England.
“Our engineers are waiting for access to the building to complete safety checks,” a spokesperson said.
“Our thoughts are with everyone who has been affected by this tragic incident.”
Andy Gregory23 October 2024 13:50
Police investigation into three ‘unexplained’ deaths
An investigation has been launched because the three deaths in Swanage are being treated as “unexplained”, Dorset Police said.
The force said: “Four other people have been taken to hospital as a precaution and other residents of the address have been evacuated to a safe location as emergency services respond to the incident.
“There remains a significant multi-agency presence in place at the address and a cordon remains in place as we work with partners to carry out further enquiries.”
Andy Gregory23 October 2024 13:49
Three dead after Dorset care home evacuated and hazard response team called
Three people have died and four taken to hospital after a care home in Dorset was evacuated and a hazard response team called.
A vast emergency response was mobilised to deal with the major incident in Swanage on Wednesday morning, with Dorset Police confirming the fatalities at Gainsborough Care Home shortly after 1pm.
Read more in this breaking report:
Andy Gregory23 October 2024 13:46
We’ll be using this blog to bring you the latest updates after a care home in Swanage was evacuated, with police reporting that three people have died.
Andy Gregory23 October 2024 13:46