Patients evacuated from 'suspicious' hospice fire

Police have named the two people who died following a fire at St Michael's Hospice, St Leonards.

Jill Moon, 62, of St Helens Crescent, Hastings, and David Denness, 81, Swaines Passage, Hastings, were patients at the hospice when the fire broke out in the early hours. They were taken to the Conquest Hospital, Hastings, to be treated for smoke inhalation but sadly died several hours later.

A 67 year-old patient at the hospice has been arrested on suspicion of murder and starting the fire. The unnamed suspect is currently too ill to be questioned by police.

A 67 year-old man, arrested on suspicion of murder, was a patient at the hospice he is accused of setting on fire. The unnamed suspect is currently too ill to be questioned by police.

Two people died as a result of the fire at St. Michael's hospice in St. Leonards, Sussex.

Celia Pyke-Lees is the Chief Executive of St Michael's Hospice.

A man arrested on suspicion of the murder of two residents who died in an arson attack on a hospice is still awaiting questioning as he lies ill in hospital.

The 67-year-old was detained following the blaze at St Michael's Hospice in St Leonards, East Sussex, in the early hours of Saturday. A woman aged 62 and an 81-year-old man died after suffering smoke inhalation.

Another resident, a 78-year-old woman, also died on Saturday but police do not believe her death is connected to the fire. A Sussex Police spokesman said the 67-year-old suspect, who is known to the hospice, is ill in hospital.

Fire, ambulance and police all declared the blaze a major incident and 23 residents and nine staff were evacuated. Detective Chief Inspector Mark Preston, of the Surrey and Sussex Major Crime Team, said: "The arrested man is unable to be questioned currently due to his ill health.

"This is a complicated investigation and further inquiries are being carried out to establish the cause of death of the residents. "This is an extremely difficult time for the residents and staff of St Michael's Hospice and for the families of the residents who have sadly passed away."

Police are waiting to question a man on suspicion of murder after a fire at a hospice in St Leonards.

The 67-year-old suspect is currently ill in hospital.

He was initially arrested for arson with intent to endanger life and then was arrested on two counts of suspicion of murder.

Another woman resident aged 78 also died on Saturday, but her death isn't thought to be connected to the blaze.

Police are continuing to question a man on suspicion of murder after a fire at a hospice in Sussex.

Two residents, a 62-year-old woman and an 81-year-old man, died when they breathed in smoke at St. Michael's in St. Leonards.

A woman in her seventies has also died but it's unclear whether her death is connected to the blaze.

We spoke to Celia Pyke-Lees, who is the Chief Executive of St Michael's Hospice.

A man has been arrested on suspicion of murder, after two more residents of a Sussex hospice lost their lives following a fire.

A 62 year-old woman and a 81 year-old man died after being taken to hospital for breathing-in smoke during the fire at St. Michael's hospice in St. Leonards.

Another woman died yesterday, although police don't know whether her death is linked to the fire.

A 67 year-old man was initially arrested on suspicion of starting the fire, but police have now launched a murder investigation.

More than 30 people were evacuated from St. Michael's in the fire yesterday morning (Saturday, 11 July).

All East Sussex Fire and Rescue Sercvice engines have left the scene but investigators remain on the site.