A TENTH person has been confirmed to have died following the Pier Road explosion.
Kathleen (Kathy) McGinness (73), who lived in one of the adjacent buildings to the Haut de Mont block of flats, was admitted to hospital following the blast. She died on Christmas Day.
Police chief Robin Smith said: ‘I am in the incredibly sad position of confirming another fatality linked to Haut du Mont.’
Nine people had already been confirmed to have been killed in the blast on Saturday 10 December. The nine Islanders – 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 Billy Marsden (63) – who were named as missing residents have now been formally identified and officers across the States police and government are assisting with the next steps so that families can start making funeral arrangements.
Confirming the death of Ms McGinness, Mr Smith added: ‘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.’
An explosion in the early hours of Saturday 10 December led to a full collapse of the Andium-run block, An investigation into the cause of the blast is ongoing.
