Man dies following fire at Belfast hospital

By Jonathan McCambridge (Press Association)

A man has died following a fire in the emergency department of a Belfast hospital.

The incident occurred at the Royal Victoria Hospital, when the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service (NIFRS) was called to a blaze on the ground floor at around 6.50pm on Wednesday.

A PSNI statement said: “A man in his 30s has since passed away in hospital.

“This is being treated as a sudden death and not suspicious at this time.”

A NIFRS spokesperson said: “The thoughts and sympathies of Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service are with the loved ones of a man who died following a fire at the Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast.

“Firefighters were called to reports of a fire at 6.43pm yesterday.

“Two appliances from Springfield Fire Station, one appliance from Central Fire Station, one appliance from Cadogan Fire Station and one appliance from Whitla Fire Station attended the incident.

“The fire was extinguished prior to NIFRS’ arrival.

“Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus ventilated the premises and used gas monitors to ensure readings were normal.

“One male casualty, aged in his 30s, tragically died as a result of the incident.

“The scene was handed over to the PSNI and firefighters left the incident at 9.02pm.”