Three people dead, four hospitalised in 'critical incident' at Gainsborough Care Home in Swanage

Emergency services were called to Gainsborough Care Home on Ulwell Road at around 5.30am on Wednesday morning (October 23). Police, fire and ambulance crews attended, alongside a hazard response team with the incident suspected to be “attributed to carbon monoxide but has not been proven”, according to Dorset councillor Gary Suttle.

Mr Suttle added: “I have been told by (Dorchester) social services there was a critical incident at the home. Three people are confirmed as dead and two people have been taken to hospital.” Locals spotted resident, some in wheelchairs, being evacuated from the care home, which is run by Agincare, earlier this morning. The home has 48 residents, some conditions such as dementia, with all of those evacuated taken to a nearby church hall.

Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service 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.”

A Dorset Police spokesman has confirmed three people were found dead at a care home in Ulwell Road, Swanage. An investigation has been launched due to their deaths being treated as “unexplained”.

The spokesman said: “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.”

Katie Lobban, a spokesperson 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.”