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The scene at Naas Hospital this afternoon Doreen Phelan

Death of patient at Naas General Hospital was direct consequence of ambulance fire

Two paramedics were also injured in the blaze, one seriously.

THE HSE HAS confirmed that the death of a patient in an ambulance which caught fire at Naas General Hospital was a direct consequence of the fire.

Two National Ambulance Service paramedics were also injured in the incident, with one understood to have sustained burn injuries.

Speaking to reporters in Naas this evening, HSE director general Tony O’Brien said early indications point to “an oxygen related incident”.

He described the incident as an “unbelievable tragedy” and said that he has spoken to the family of the patient.

The ambulance was less than one year old, said O’Brien on RTÉ Six One this evening. He said that most of the ambulance was destroyed in the blaze.

TheJournal.ie understands that the ambulance caught fire while bringing a patient to the the Emergency Department. The patient, a man in his 70s, died shortly afterwards and O’Brien said his death was a direct consequence of the fire.

Images from the scene show the front of the ambulance is heavily damaged.

Two medics who had brought the elderly man to hospital were injured in the fire. One has now been released and the second was taken to St James’ Hospital in Dublin but is said to be doing well.

Garreth MacNamee / TheJournal.ie Garreth MacNamee / TheJournal.ie / TheJournal.ie

Naas General Hospital earlier ordered an evacuation after the incident, which happened at 2pm today while the patient was being brought by ambulance to the Emergency Department (ED).

The hospital’s emergency plan has been put into action, and all staff and patients have been evacuated from the ED and the nearby outpatients clinic.
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Gardaí in Naas said they and the HSE are investigating all the circumstances surrounding today’s fire.

In a statement, they said:

A male patient was in the ambulance at the time of the fire and was pronounced dead at the scene. The area has been sealed off for a technical examination.

Explosions

The HSE confirmed that the Emergency Department has temporarily closed.

The National Ambulance Service (NAS) has implemented diversion protocols and patients are being taken to alternative hospitals.

The NAS has also informed both the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) and An Garda Siochána, and a full investigation is underway into the incident.

The hospital has advised any member of the public seeking access to medical care to visit their GP in the first instance and if necessary to access another Emergency Department in an alternative hospital.
The hospital has also requested that members of the public refrain from visiting at this time.

‘It combusted and exploded’

Witnesses reported loud bangs and explosions, and flames licking the building. Images taken show black smoke billowing from the hospitals lands.

The HSE referred all queries about the incident to The Hospital Group, who said they would be making a statement soon.

It’s understood four fire brigades attended the scene, as well as several Garda vehicles.

Dozens of other patients have been evacuated due to the blaze, someone familiar with the hospital investigation told TheJournal.ie.

“It combusted and exploded,” the person said.

“The fire was outside the A&E entrance, they were bringing the patient into Casualty.”

Another witness said: ”The ambulance went up very fast. There were lots of bangs and explosions. I hope there wasn’t anyone hurt.”

Local councillor Fintan Brett told TheJournal.ie the whole area is “in shock”.

“Imagine that poor man going into hospital, thinking he was going to get better, and then he passes away. It’s absolutely terrible. My thoughts go out to him and his family.”

With reporting from Michelle Hennessy and Garreth MacNamee.

Read: 200 extra emergency beds for the homeless to be provided before Christmas

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120 Comments
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    Mute Aidan Boran
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    Feb 7th 2018, 11:13 PM

    best treatment is whiskey and sand.

    Massage one or two shots of whiskey, then add handful of sand to the scalp….

    nits get drunk and kill each other throwing stones…

    472
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    Mute The Girl
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    Feb 7th 2018, 11:16 PM

    @Aidan Boran: Really? Must try that…but then why waste whisky?

    21
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    Mute Patabake Kennedy
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    Feb 8th 2018, 12:51 AM

    @Aidan Boran: May only apply to Irish Lice.

    67
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    Mute Margaret O Neill
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    Feb 8th 2018, 3:31 PM

    @Aidan Boran: best laugh I’ve had in weeks. Thanks Aidan

    8
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    Mute Boutros Boutros-Ghali
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    Feb 7th 2018, 11:07 PM

    I might be nitpicking, but I don’t think you’re meant to smoke while you treat your children’s scalps. Lousy carry on.

    315
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    Mute Fiona Fitzgerald
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    Feb 8th 2018, 2:49 AM

    All done, just need a candle to read the small print…

    23
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    Mute Peter Cavey
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    Feb 7th 2018, 11:37 PM

    30 years ago this was an issue too.. although, 30 yesterday ago, head lice cream had plutonium in it.

    17
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    Mute Boutros Boutros-Ghali
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    Feb 7th 2018, 11:42 PM

    @Peter Cavey: Lice cream and jelly

    23
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    Mute Andy K
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    Feb 8th 2018, 6:53 AM

    @Peter Cavey: It just got rid of all the hair then? I guess that’s one way to be live free.

    5
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    Mute Dean Anderson
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    Feb 8th 2018, 6:18 AM

    “Is there anything you can prescribe doctor?” –Homer Simpson
    “Fire &lots of it.” – Dr Hibbert
    “Oh, that’s your cure for everything ” – Marge Simpson

    14
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    Mute
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    Feb 7th 2018, 11:40 PM

    What are vegans thoughts on killing these little creatures…

    70
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    Mute Boutros Boutros-Ghali
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    Feb 7th 2018, 11:41 PM

    @: I think they go for clean hair, so they’re not typically a worry for vegans.

    104
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    Mute Jackie Carvill Caruana
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    Feb 8th 2018, 7:46 AM

    @Boutros Boutros-Ghali: I’ve always heard that head lice love clean hair. Do vegans have clean hair in general? The ones I know don’t!

    12
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    Mute Desmodromic
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    Feb 8th 2018, 2:11 PM

    We see what you did there – sneaky!

    1
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    Mute Sean
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    Feb 8th 2018, 8:33 AM

    I saw a girls hair go on fire in a church once. It was heavily lacquered and the fire took hold instantly. An unlikely but quick witted hero took off his jacket and threw it over her head smothering out the flames. But for him she would have been in serious trouble because the rest of us were just standing there mouths agape.

    14
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    Mute JJ
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    Feb 8th 2018, 11:10 AM

    I was at a bonfire once. Was deadly.

    6
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    Mute Tomas
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    Feb 7th 2018, 11:07 PM

    Fecking fire flea’s ffs

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    Mute Marie Okeeffe
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    Feb 8th 2018, 4:59 PM

    Tea tree oil the best treatment for them and its natural

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    Mute Michael Wynne
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    Feb 7th 2018, 11:18 PM

    Well I think that’ll kill the little f***ers for sure

    28
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