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A pensioner injured in an explosion at a Jersey apartment block earlier this month died in hospital on Christmas Day, becoming the 10th victim of the tragedy.

The explosion, which took place just after 4am on December 10, destroyed the building in St Helier. It tore down the three-story building and rocked the island community.

Kathleen McGinness, 73, was taken to hospital after the incident on Pier Road. She lived in a building adjacent to the one that collapsed, police said.

Statement

In a statement on Boxing Day, Jersey Police Chief Robin Smith said he was “incredibly saddened” to confirm another death. Kathleen McGinness, 73, who was injured in the blast earlier this month, died in hospital on Christmas Day.

Family

Mr Smith said: ‘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.’

Investigation

Investigators are still investigating the cause of the explosion that rocked the Channel Island community.

Smith said the “probable” cause of the explosion was a gas leak, but Jo Cox, chief executive of Island Energy, said the affected flats were not connected to the gas grid.
An independent investigation into the island’s fire service continues after it was discovered officers had been called to the apartments at 8:36 p.m. m. on December 9, hours before the explosion.

Paul Brown, chief of the Jersey Fire and Rescue Service, said: “It’s not appropriate for me to talk about anything else on Friday night because the most appropriate place to do that is through the investigation process, because the only important thing here is the families”.

‘Normally we would investigate, we investigate hundreds of fires every year, but this time we will commission independent investigators.

Victim

Seven of the victims have already been named including Peter Bowler, 72, Raymond ‘Raymie’ Brown, 71, Romeu and Louise De Almeida, 67 and 64, Derek and Sylvia Ellis, 61 and 73, and Billy Marsden, 63.