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Live: Three dead and four in hospital after ‘suspected carbon monoxide leak’ at Swanage care home

23 October 2024, 12:12 | Updated: 23 October 2024, 13:51

Councillor Gary Suttle called the Gainsborough Care Home incident a "tragic event".
Councillor Gary Suttle called the Gainsborough Care Home incident a "tragic event". Picture: LBC

By Asher McShane

Three people are believed to have died after emergency services rushed to a 'major incident' at a care home in Dorset.

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LBC has been told that the incident is being dealt with as a suspected carbon monoxide leak, according to local Tory councillor Gary Suttle.

He said that other residents of the care home have ben evacuated to nearby All Saints Church.

A South Western Ambulance Service spokesperson said they were called at 5.20am on Wednesday to an incident in Swanage, sending a hazard response team, 10 double-crewed ambulances and "a significant number of additional resources".

"Two patients were conveyed by land ambulance to Poole Hospital", they added.

A Dorset and Wiltshire Fire Service spokesman also said they were called to the scene to assist ambulance crews in Ulwell Road at 7.47am. Group manager Neil Tidball said: "We currently have four fire crews on scene from Swanage, Wareham, Westbourne, Poole, a support vehicle from Dorchester along with two crews from Winchester (Hampshire and IOW FRS).

Do you know what is happening or do you have photos from the scene? Email online@lbc.co.uk

Gainsborough care home incident- what we know so far

Three people are thought to have died following a suspected carbon monoxide leak at a Dorset care home.

Here's what we know so far:

  • Emergency services responded to a major incident at the Gainsborough Care Home in Dorset shortly after 7am.
  • Local Conservative councillor, Gary Suttle, confirmed to LBC that three people died in the incident.
  • Multiple ambulances, fire engines and police are currently in attendance
  • Fire engines, police cars and hazardous response units have been drafted in from neighbouring districts.
  • Staff at the care home were seen hugging each other and crying according to locals outside the address.

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Care regulator monitoring situation

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) says it "will continue to closely monitor" the situation.

A spokesperson said it was "aware of the tragic developments" and its "condolences are with those affected".

Local MP 'deeply saddened' after three die in incident

Statement from Dorset Police

Dorset Police are still trying to 'establish the full circumstances' of the incident at a Dorset care home.

Wes Streeting sends message of support to those affected in Gainsborough

Video from the scene in Swanage

Wellbeing of residents 'overwhelming priority"

A spokesperson for Gainsborough Care Home said they have allocated "extra staffing resources" to provide support after an incident at the residence in Swanage. 

"An incident involving the care home took place this morning, and we have been closely working with the lead agencies to manage the welfare of all concerned.

"The wellbeing of residents is always our over-riding priority, and part of the local business continuity plan was to transfer residents in a managed way to a local village hall and church, where they remain safe and well.

"We appreciate that this is a stressful and worrying time for those involved, and have allocated extra staffing resources to provide support locally. We are contacting and updating residents' families.

"We will continue to work with the lead local authority services to return residents into their home at the earliest opportunity, and will provide further updates in due course."

Statement from Agincare regarding Gainsborough Care Home

A spokesperson for Gainsborough Care Home said that "the wellbeing of residents is always our overriding priority," and "we appreciate that this is a stressful and worrying time for those involved."

They said:

"An incident involving the care home took place this morning, and we have been closely working with the lead agencies to manage the welfare of all concerned.

The wellbeing of residents is always our overriding priority, and part of the local business continuity plan was to transfer residents in a managed way to a local village hall and church, where they remain safe and well.

We appreciate that this is a stressful and worrying time for those involved, and have allocated extra staffing resources to provide support locally. We are contacting and updating residents’ families.

We will continue to work with the lead local authority services to return residents into their home at the earliest opportunity, and will provide further updates in due course."

Three dead in "unexplained" circumstances, police say

Three people have died at Gainsborough Care Home under "unexplained" circumstances, Dorset Police has confirmed.

Police also said the families of the deceased have been informed, and the coroner has been notified.

Four other people have been taken to hospital as a precaution and other residents of the address have been evacuated to a safe location.

The police say there is nothing to indicate any wider risk to the public.