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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
National
Kelly-Ann Mills

Woman dies on Christmas Day from injuries as Jersey flats explosion death toll hits 10

A woman who was badly injured after an explosion at a block of flats in Jersey, died on Christmas Day.

Kathleen McGinness had been in hospital since the incident in St Helier on December 10.

The 73-year-old woman lived in a building adjacent to the one which collapsed and is the 10th victim of the tragedy.

It is thought a gas explosion took place, but investigations are still underway by police and fire teams.

Firefighters were called to the block just after 8.30pm on Friday, December 9 when occupants smelled gas, and it was allegedly deemed safe before the explosion nine hours later.

Jersey’s Chief of Police Robin Smith said: “I am in the incredibly sad position of confirming another fatality linked to Haut du Mont.

“Kathleen (Kathy) McGinness, 73, who lived at Haut du Mont in an adjacent building to the one which collapsed, passed away in Jersey General Hospital on Christmas Day.

(PA)

“She had been admitted to hospital following the incident at Pier Road.

“Her family are being supported by specially trained police family liaison officers and my thoughts, and the thoughts of all of us at States of Jersey Police, are with them.

“This incident has been incredibly challenging for everyone involved and I would like to praise the families for their stoicism in the face of such tragic circumstances.

“The island is rightly behind them and on-hand to support, but first and foremost we are there together to give them their privacy and time to grieve.”

(PA)

The nine other victims were Peter Bowler, 72, Raymond (Raymie) Brown, 71, Romeu and Louise De Almeida, 67 and 64, Derek and Sylvia Ellis, 61 and 73, Ken and Jane Ralph, 72 and 71, and 63-year-old Billy Marsden.

Jersey's energy supplier has announced it is carrying out safety testing of the entire island's gas supply.

Mr Smith said previously that the "likely" cause was a gas leak - but Jo Cox, chief officer at Island Energy, said the flats affected were not connected to the gas network.

(GOVERNMENT OF JERSEY HANDOUT/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock)

Ms Cox previously told reporters: "Island Energy continues to work alongside the emergency services as they continue their recovery operation.

"The company will conduct its own investigation into what happened, as well as helping the various official inquiries.

"Our engineers are safety-testing the island's gas network, and this will be completed in the next few days. No issues have been detected in the survey so far."

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