UK
Swanage care home: Woman, 60, arrested on suspicion of manslaughter after three people found dead
A woman has been arrested on suspicion of manslaughter after three people were found dead at a care home in Swanage.
Dorset Police said it had arrested the 60-year-old woman on Wednesday “to enable us to establish whether there have been actions or omissions which are grossly negligent and gather as much information as we can about what has happened”.
The deaths at the Gainsborough Care Home are currently being treated as “unexplained” and possible carbon monoxide poisoning is the “primary line of inquiry”, police said in an earlier update.
Seven people were taken to hospital “as a precaution” and the property was evacuated.
The police, who were called at 7.16am on Wednesday, said there is no risk to the wider public.
A spokesperson for Southern Gas Network confirmed it had been called to Gainsborough Care Home.
The care home, run by Agincare, has 48 residents, all elderly and some with dementia.
Emergency services at the scene. Pic: BNPS
The care home residents were evacuated to a nearby church. Pic: BNPS
All the residents were evacuated to a nearby church hall, with some in wheelchairs.
A spokesperson for the care home said it had sent “extra staffing resources” amid the incident and said the wellbeing of residents was its “over-riding priority”.
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Care home deaths treated as ‘unexplained’
Gary Suttle, a member of Dorset Council, said: “Our condolences and sympathy are with those who have lost their lives in this tragic event.”
He thanked locals for coming into the church where people had been evacuated to, bringing blankets in acts of “great community support”.
Pic: BNPS
Pic: BNPS
South Western Ambulance Service said it was called to the home in Swanage at 5.20am and sent a hazard response team, 10 ambulances, and “a significant number of additional resources”.
A spokeswoman for Southern Gas Network said: “We were called to Gainsborough Care Home in Swanage earlier today in our capacity as the national gas emergency service for the south of England.
“Our engineers are waiting for access to the building to complete safety checks.
“Our thoughts are with everyone who has been affected by this tragic incident.”
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Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service said it had sent four crews to the scene in Ulwell Road after it was called at 7.47am, with another two crews from the Hampshire and the Isle of Wight services also there.
Group manager Neil Tidball said: “Firefighters are working with Dorset Police, South West Ambulance Service and other partners to resolve this incident.”