Three dead in ‘tragic incident’ at Swanage care home as hazmat crews on scene

Three people have died after an incident at a Dorset care home.

Emergency services including crews wearing hazmat suits are at the scene Gainsborough Care Home in Swanage after being called at around 7am this morning.

A statement from Dorset Police said the deaths are being treated as “unexplained” and an investigation has been launched.

The force added: “Inquiries 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.”

He added that there is a “suspicion” that “this could be attributable to carbon monoxide but it has not been proven”.

Katie Lobban, a spokesperson for SGN, a gas distribution company, said they were called to Gainsborough Care Home earlier on Wednesday as the national gas emergency service for the south of England.

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“Our engineers are waiting for access to the building to complete safety checks,” she said.

“Our thoughts are with everyone who has been affected by this tragic incident.”

People living near the scene in Ulwell Road saw Gainsborough Care Home residents being taken out of the building.

One man, who did not want to give his name, 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 taken out in wheelchairs.

A Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service spokesman said they were called to the scene to assist ambulance crews 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).

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

The home, run by Agincare, has 48 residents, all elderly and some with dementia.

All of the residents were taken to a nearby church hall.

The family of one resident was called by the company on Wednesday morning and told that everyone was “fine”.

This story is being updated.