Police and firefighters continue to investigate suspected carbon monoxide poisoning at a Dorset care home where three elderly people died, relatives and neighbors of the survivors said they were shocked by the tragedy. .
Police said on Thursday that two men, aged 91 and 74, and an 86-year-old woman died at Gainsborough Care Home in Swanage. The other seven people were taken to hospital as a precautionary measure, but their condition is not serious.
A 60-year-old woman arrested on suspicion of manslaughter has been released following an investigation.
Police said the investigation continues with possible carbon monoxide poisoning as the primary investigation and there is no further risk to the community.
Dozens of residents who were evacuated from their homes were cared for in the church hall. One woman, whose 82-year-old mother was among those evacuated, told the Guardian she believed the incident was a “terrible accident”.
The woman said: “My mother is being cared for by specialists at ICSD. [intensive community support for dementia]. They and my mother's social worker informed me. I was allowed to meet my mother in the church hall. One of the caregivers who was very attached to my mother came over for the holidays and she sat there holding her hand because she knew my mother.
“My mother moved to another care home last night. She's okay but very vulnerable. She wasn't able to go to another home until 10pm last night. She also has medication. I don't have any clothes.
“I don't know what happened because it's such a nice house. The staff were great. They had activities going on. My mom's room was allowed to be decorated. Their maintenance guys were great I know he posted all the pictures of his mom. I think it was a terrible accident.”
It turned out that the 86-year-old woman who died had a younger sister in the house. The sisters safely evacuated to the church building.
A community leader said: “Her family was able to come down and see and be with their grandmother during what was a difficult time for them. It was heartbreaking.”
Police were called at 7.16am on Wednesday after three people were found dead at the 48-bed care home in Ulwell Road.
Charlotte Harris, 34, who worked as an activities co-ordinator at a care home, went to help. She said: “The most important thing right now is shock. It's a huge tragedy that doesn't seem real. There's a lot of sadness.”
Police stood guard outside a house near the Swanage seafront, and firefighters continued to inspect the interior on Thursday. A police crime van was parked outside.
Police said the 60-year-old woman was arrested in order to determine whether officers had committed “any acts or omissions that appear to be grossly negligent, and the investigation will continue.”
The home is run by Ajin Careis a family-owned business founded in 1986 in Weymouth, Dorset, and currently employs 4,000 people across more than 90 sites across England.
In its 2021 report, the Care Quality Commission said: rated the house as “good” “Risks within the home environment were well managed,” he said.
The paper quoted a relative as saying: my [family member] Being firefighters, we were raised with health and safety in mind and we never found anything dangerous. “They are very safety conscious,” said another.
