Tragedy as three people die and four rushed to hospital after ‘suspected carbon monoxide leak’ at Dorset care home – as Hazmat responders scramble to scene

Three people have died and four more have been rushed to hospital after a ‘major incident’ was declared at a care home following a suspected carbon monoxide leak.

Dorset Police received a report at 7.16am after they were found dead at Gainsborough Care Home in Swanage, Dorset. The ambulance service had been called two hours earlier, at 5.20am, when they also attended the scene.

Enquiries into the cause are ongoing and it is currently being treated as ‘unexplained’.

A spokesperson added: ‘At this time there is nothing to indicate any risk to the wider public.’ 

Four people have been taken to hospital as a precaution and more than 40 vulnerable residents and staff were evacuated by ambulances and taken to the All Saints Church nearby for shelter.

The elderly victims were found at the Gainsborough Care Home in Swanage, Dorset, at about 5.20am today

As many as 20 ambulances, fire engines and police have been rushed to the scene are at the Gainsborough Care Home in Ullwell Road, Swanage

The 48-bedroom care home (pictured) is at the centre of the emergency effort

The scene outside All Saints Church close to the care home shows the sheer scale of the response by emergency services

In a statement to the BBC from Gainsborough Care Home, a spokesperson said their priority was to ensure the residents ‘remain safe and well.’

They said: ‘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.’

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

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’. 

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.

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.

Emergency services use the ferry to rush across to the scene, with more ambulances waiting to get across

Witnesses said staff members were seen outside the building hugging each other and crying

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 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.

Gas company SGN are also on the scene alongside a Hazardous Area Response Team, although details of what has happened have not yet been revealed

The facility, run by Agincare cares for elderly residents, some of whom have dementia

‘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 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. 

Emergency services arrived around 7am on Wednesday and he started to see people being moved out at around 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.’