A pensioner died on Christmas Day to become the tenth person to pass away in Jersey following an explosion at a block of flats earlier this month.
Kathy McGinness died in hospital yesterday, due to her injuries. She lived in the Haut du Mont residential complex, which collapsed following an explosion on December 10.
In all, ten people have died due to the explosion. Now, States of Jersey Police have confirmed the identity of the latest victim to be named as the 73-year-old Kathy, who died in Jersey General Hospital.
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A statement from 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.
“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.”
On December 22, an update issued by the force said that the ‘nine Islanders that were named as missing residents have now been formally identified’. It’s also thought that the Deputy Viscount will open the inquests next Friday, December 30, and adjourn them whilst the police investigation continues.
Detectives will continue their enquiries throughout the Festive period and a cordon of the site will remain in place into the New Year, with specialist scientific work expected to last several weeks.
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