Carbon monoxide poisoning ‘is principal line of inquiry’ after three have been discovered useless in Dorset care dwelling and 7 taken to hospital, police say

Carbon monoxide poisoning is the ‘primary line of inquiry’ after three people were found dead in a care home in Dorset and seven were taken to hospital, police have confirmed.    

The ‘major incident’ was declared at Gainsborough Care Home in Swanage after Dorset Police received a report at 7.16am of three dead.   

The ambulance service was called two hours earlier, at 5.20am, when they also attended the scene.

Chief Superintendent Heather Dixey says the deaths are currently being treated as ‘unexplained’ and carbon monoxide poisoning is the ‘primary line of inquiry’.

She added that seven people have now been taken to hospital as a precaution.

Four patients were taken to Poole Hospital, and three were transported to Dorset County Hospital.

Superintendent Dixey confirmed there is no risk to the wider public, and thanked the ‘tight-knit community’ for its support.

‘We will continue to provide updates in relation to our investigation,’ she added, urging the public to ‘refrain from speculation’.

More than 40 vulnerable residents and staff were evacuated by ambulances and taken to the All Saints Church nearby for shelter.

Councillor Gary Suttle claimed: ‘I have been told by (Dorchester) social services there was a critical incident at the home. Three people are confirmed as dead.’ 

Some of the emergency crew were said to be wearing hazmat suits. 

He said that there is a ‘suspicion’ that ‘this could be attributable to carbon monoxide but it has not been proven’. 

A Dorset Council spokesperson said this afternoon: ‘Dorset Council is deeply saddened to hear of the deaths at the Gainsborough care home in Swanage.

‘We are working with the home’s owners Agincare, emergency services and other partner agencies to support the residents of the care home who have been evacuated.

‘Many of the residents are vulnerable people with significant care needs, and so we are working with them to understand how to meet their needs in the short term and identify their next steps.

‘At this time there is nothing to indicate any risk to the wider public. We understand this incident will have a significant impact on the Swanage community and our thoughts are very much with the families of those who have sadly died at this extremely difficult time.”

As many as 20 ambulances, fire engines and police were rushed to the scene this morning. Witnesses said staff members were seen outside the building hugging each other and crying.

Gas company SGN are also on the scene alongside a Hazardous Area Response Team, although details of the exact cause of the deaths has not yet been revealed. 

In a statement, they said it was a ‘tragic incident’, adding that they were at the scene in their capacity at the National Gas Emergency Service.

People living on Ulwell Road in Swanage, Dorset, saw Gainsborough Care Home residents being evacuated amid a heavy emergency services presence outside the home.

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

In their last Care Quality Commisson inspection in 2021 the facility rated ‘Good’ across the board.

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 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.’

A CQC spokesperson said: ‘CQC are aware of the tragic developments at Gainsborough Care Home in Swanage Dorset. Our condolences are with those affected. 

‘We are in contact with the provider and the emergency services to ensure other residents are kept safe. We will continue to closely monitor this situation.’

Blankets and pillows have been supplied to elderly residents as they wait for the all clear in the local church.

One man, who did not want to give his named, said: ‘They evacuated the care home, Gainsborough Care Home.

‘They have taken all the patients out but the emergency services are still on the scene.’

He said he saw some residents being evacuated in wheelchairs.

Emergency services were said to have arrived around 7am on Wednesday and he started to see people being moved out at around 8.30am.

He estimated there were two fire engines, three to four police cars and around eight or nine ambulances at the scene, where the road remains closed.

A statement from South Western Ambulance Service, said: ‘We were called at 5.20am today to an incident at a care home in Swanage.

‘We sent a Hazardous Area Response Team, ten double-crewed ambulances and a significant number of additional resources. 

‘Two patients were conveyed by ambulance to Poole Hospital.’

The 48-bedroom care home is at the centre of the emergency effort. 

The facility, run by Agincare cares for elderly residents, some of whom have dementia. All of the residents were taken to a nearby church hall.

A spokesperson for the police force confirmed: ‘Dorset Police received a report at 7.16am on Wednesday 23 October 2024 in relation to three people who had been found deceased at a care home in Ulwell Road in Swanage.

‘Enquiries are being carried out to establish the full circumstances and we are continuing to liaise with our partner agencies.

‘The families of those who have died have been informed and the coroner has been notified.

‘The deaths are currently being treated as unexplained and an investigation has been launched.

‘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.

‘At this time there is nothing to indicate any risk to the wider public.

‘We understand this incident will have a significant impact on the Swanage community and our thoughts are very much with the families of those who have sadly died at this extremely difficult’

Local MP Lloyd Hatton added that he was ‘deeply saddened’ by the news. Speaking to 5Live, he added that it was ‘hitting the whole community hard’.

Local resident Ken told the Bournemouth Echo: ‘It’s very sad what has happened here and shocking.

‘We heard a lot of sirens heading towards Swanage at about 8/8.30am. 

‘I’ve never seen anything like it. I hope everybody in the care home is okay.’ 

Katie Lobban, spokesperson for gas network company SGN, 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.’

Group Manager for Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service, Neil Tidball added: ‘We were called at 7.47am this morning (23 October) to assist the ambulance service in Ulwell Road, Swanage. 

‘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). 

‘Firefighters are working with Dorset Police, South West Ambulance Service and other partners to resolve this incident.’