Swanage asylum: 60-year-old woman arrested on suspicion of manslaughter after three people found dead

A woman has been arrested on suspicion of manslaughter after three people were found dead at a care home in Swanage.

Dorset Police said they arrested the 60-year-old woman on Wednesday “so that we can establish whether there was an act or omission that constitutes gross negligence and to gather as much information as possible about what happened.”

The deaths at a care home in Gainsborough are currently being treated as “unexplained” and possible carbon monoxide poisoning is the “main line of inquiry”, police said in an earlier update.

Seven people were taken to the hospital “as a precautionary measure”, and the property was evacuated.

Police, who were called at 7:16 a.m. Wednesday, said there was no danger to the general public.

A spokesman for Southern Gas Network confirmed he had been called to a care home in Gainsborough.

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

All residents were evacuated to the nearby church hall, some were in wheelchairs.

A spokesman for the care home said “extra staff” had been sent following the incident and said the welfare of residents was its “top priority”.

Dorset councilor Gary Suttle said: “Our condolences and sympathies go out to those who lost their lives in this tragic event.”

He thanked local residents for coming to the church where people were evacuated and bringing blankets as a sign of “great community support.”

South West Ambulance Service said it was called to the home in Swanage at 5.20am and sent an emergency response team, 10 ambulances and “a significant number of additional resources”.

A spokeswoman for Southern Gas Network said: “We were called to a care home in Gainsborough in Swanage today as the national gas emergency service in the south of England.

“Our engineers are awaiting access to the building to complete a security check.

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

Dorset Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service said it sent four crews to the scene in Uwell Road after being called at 7.47am, along with two other crews from Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.

Group manager Neil Tidball said: “Fire services are working with Dorset Police, South West Ambulance Service and other partners to deal with this incident.”