Detectives investigating the deaths of three people at a care home in Swanage have arrested a 60-year-old woman on suspicion of manslaughter, Dorset Police have said.
Three people were found dead at Gainsborough Care Home in Dorset and seven were taken to hospital earlier today after a ‘major incident’ was declared following the call to the police at 7.16am.
The suspect was arrested just hours after police said the deaths were being treated as ‘unexplained’ and possible carbon monoxide posioning is the ‘primary line of inquiry.’
Four patients were taken to Poole Hospital, and three were transported to Dorset County Hospital.
As many as 20 ambulances, fire engines and police rushed to the scene this morning. Witnesses said staff members were seen outside the building hugging each other and crying.
While more than 40 vulnerable residents and staff were evacuated and taken to the All Saints Church nearby for shelter.
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’.
Detective Chief Inspector Neil Third, of the Major Crime Investigation Team, said: ‘Our heartfelt thoughts and condolences are with the families and loved ones of those who tragically died and they are being supported by officers.
‘As part of our investigation, we have made one arrest 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.
‘It is important to note that the arrest process also provides certain legal protection to individuals and I would ask for the media and public to avoid speculating any further now that legal proceedings are active.
‘We know that the residents of Swanage will be feeling the impact of this incident immensely and we would like to thank everyone for the care and respect that has been shown throughout the day.
‘Our local neighbourhood policing team will be on hand to provide support – we know this is a difficult time and we are doing all we can to minimise the impact on the community while we conduct enquiries in the area.’
Reverend Jo Levasier said evacuated residents came into All Saints Church on stretchers and in wheelchairs following the incident.
‘We have a few beds that have been set up,’ she said.
‘Quite a few people are confused. I think most of them are OK. The care staff have been amazing, amazing. Lots of people who’ve had time off have just come in.
‘Lots of care staff have been here, so it’s been amazing. I’ve been just trying to facilitate the different organisations working together in the one space, sorting tea and coffee.’
The Swanage community have rallied together to help evacuated care home residents who have been taken to the nearby church.
A local bakery, The Italian Bakery, donated several boxes of pastries to comfort the evacuated care home residents.
The boss of the care home even had bags of fish and chips from local restaurant Harlees to cheer up helpers and the elderly residents.
Salama Ghounaim, 34, who works in its kitchen, said the residents were ‘all very elderly, some of them almost 100 years old’.
The site received a good rating in all areas – including the safety category – at its last inspection by the Care Quality Commission in 2021.
Gary Suttle, a county councillor for the town, said those who were evacuated seemed ‘healthy and well’.
He also said: ‘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.”
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 the ‘wellbeing of residents is always our overriding priority’. He added: ‘We appreciate that this is a stressful and worrying time for those involved.
‘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.’
