The death of three elderly residents in one night at a Swanage care home is now thought to be a tragic coincidence, following the conclusion of a Dorset Police investigation.
No further action will be taken in the case, which saw a 60 year old Swanage woman arrested on suspicion of manslaughter before being released, and also led to the evacuation and two month closure of Gainborough care home in Ulwell Road.
The Gainsborough care home in Ulwell Road was shut down after three residents died in one night
Two died of natural causes
After an investigation lasting half a year, Dorset Police have now concluded that a 74 year old man and a woman aged 86 died of natural causes on the night of Wednesday 23rd October 2024.
A 91 year old man, former security guard John Blake, died on the same night of a serious kidney infection after a bladder blockage caused by long term use of a catheter.
But an inquest which opened into his death on Monday 12th May 2025 has heard that there was no evidence of any third party involvement in the circumstances of his death.
The mysterious deaths were widely reported across all media outlets
Detectives ruled out carbon monoxide
A Dorset Police spokesperson said:
“Following an early suggestion that carbon monoxide may have been involved, a 60 year old local woman was arrested as part of the investigation in order to gather all available evidence and provide legal protection to the individual involved.
“Within a short space of time, detectives were able to rule out a leak of carbon monoxide from the care home’s boiler or any other gas appliances.
“A thorough examination of the scene also ruled out any other apparent environmental factors that may have contributed to the deaths.
“Once these enquiries had concluded, the arrested woman was immediately released from the investigation without charge.”
Detective Chief Inspector Neil Third thanked Swanage residents for rallying round to help
“We want to thank Swanage residents”
Dorset’s detective chief inspector Neil Third said:
“We were duty bound, and indeed the public would expect us, to fully investigate the circumstances of the deaths. All agencies worked closely together and the relevant experts were consulted.
“At the forefront of our minds have been the families of the three individuals involved, as we have conducted exhaustive enquiries into the full circumstances of the deaths of their loved ones.
“We have kept them fully updated and would like to thank them for the way they have conducted themselves over recent months as we carried out a range of complex enquiries.
“We also fully recognise the impact of these deaths and subsequent investigation on the local community in Swanage and we want to thank residents of the town for the way they have rallied round to support those affected.”
Some 40 residents evacuated from Gainsborough care home were temporarily looked after in All Saints Church before being transferred to new care homes, many a long distance from relatives
“Expert evidence was received”
Neil Third added:
“I particularly want to thank residents of the care home and their families, who were displaced as we carried out enquiries at the scene to determine that there was no ongoing risk to the public.
“We have endeavoured to share information with the public wherever possible in relation to our ongoing investigations to be transparent and prevent speculation and misinformation.
“However, it was also important that we did not prejudice any potential findings until all outstanding enquiries had been fully resolved and expert evidence was received that enabled us to reach our conclusions.”
An inquest into Gainsborough Care Home resident John Drake was opened at Bournemouth Civic Centre
Inquest opened into death of John Drake
An inquest into the death of 91 year old Gainsborough care home resident John Drake, heard that he died of a serious kidney infection after a bladder blockage caused by long term use of a catheter.
The inquest, opened at Bournemouth Civic Centre, heard that a post mortem examination was carried out on Thursday 24th October 2024, but the doctor was unable to provide a provisional cause of death.
Extensive further tests have since revealed that John Drake died of acute pyelonephritis, a bacterial kidney infection due to a bladder obstruction with hydronephrosis, where the kidneys become swollen, which required a long term catheter.
An enlarged prostate gland was also listed as a cause of death and it was noted that John Drake also suffered from chronic kidney disease and ischaemic heart disease, which were contributory factors to his death.
The police investigation into three deaths at Gainsborough care home has concluded after six months
“No evidence of any third party involvement”
Adjourning the inquest until Monday 8th September 2025, Dorset senior coroner Rachael Griffin said:
“In relation to the circumstances of Mr Drake’s death, I understand that there was a police investigation. However, I am satisfied from the information received that there is no evidence of any third party involvement in the circumstances of his death.
“It would appear from preliminary information that Mr Drake has died as a result of recognised complications of his long term catheterisation.”
Emergency services briefed media on the day of the Gainsborough care home incident
“Not unknown in residential care”
Gainsborough care home was closed until early January 2025 when all agencies involved, including owners Agincare, Dorset Council, and public and environmental health services, agreed that residents could safely return, following health, safety and environmental checks.
A spokesperson for Agincare, which runs Gainsborough care home, said:
“Gainsborough has long been a valued part of the Swanage community, and we are sincerely grateful for the continued support and understanding shown during this challenging period.
“The death of three residents within a short period of time, whilst profoundly sad, is not unknown in residential care and nursing homes, particularly where residents are living with chronic life-threatening illnesses and their health can decline rapidly and unpredictably.”
The Gainsborough Care Home reopened in January 2025
“Thoughts with those who passed away”
The spokesman later added:
“We are very pleased that this long and drawn-out police investigation is now closed and that initial concerns about carbon monoxide or any other environmental causes have been discredited and ruled out.
“The impact of this incident has caused ongoing distress, not only to the families who have had to wait months to discover the cause of death of their loved ones, but also to the residents who were evacuated and displaced.
“This has also had a profound impact on the care home manager, who was arrested, and her team who have lived under the shadow of suspicion and speculation for seven months.
“Throughout this incident, within the constraints of the ongoing police investigation, we have kept in contact with everyone involved, and offered to meet with them now the investigation is closed.
“Since reopening in January, Gainsborough has welcomed back returning residents and opened its doors to new residents. Our thoughts continue to be with those who have passed away and their loved ones during this difficult time.”
The disruptive move to temporary care homes is believed to have contributed to the further death of at least one resident living with dementia
“Difficult and disruptive situation”
A Dorset Council spokesperson said:
“We would like to thank the residents of the care home and their families, who were displaced during the investigation, for their patience and understanding in what was a difficult and disruptive situation for all involved.
“We would like to praise the community in Swanage for the support and help provided to those affected in this incident.”
