Understand
Woman thrown out of bed by Jersey gas explosion helped evacuate resident before her death
Overview
A trial at Jersey's Royal Court has heard that 73-year-old Kathy McGinness was thrown from her bed by the December 2022 Haut du Mont gas explosion and subsequently helped evacuate another resident. Ten people died in the initial blast, and Ms McGinness later passed away in hospital on Christmas Day from her injuries. Three gas workers and utility firm Island Energy are currently facing trial regarding the incident.
Key points
- Kathy McGinness, 73, told hospital staff she was thrown out of her bed by the force of the 10 December 2022 gas explosion.
- The trial heard that Ms McGinness helped police ensure the safe evacuation of another resident before being taken to St Helier town hall.
- She later became unwell, was admitted to hospital, and died on Christmas Day from a worsening spinal cord injury and a lower respiratory tract infection.
- Ten people died in the initial explosion near Haut du Mont flats.
- Gas workers Neil Armstrong, John Wright and Lee Ward deny 10 counts of gross negligence manslaughter, while Island Energy denies health and safety breaches.