85-YEAR-OLD DIES AS HOSPITAL BED GOES UP IN FLAMES

Two nurses hurt in blast after cancer patient secretly lit cigarette

AN 85-YEAR-OLD cancer patient has died and two nurses were taken to hospital after the man’s bed went up in flames when he lit a cigarette on Christmas Eve. The man secretly lit up when nurses weren’t looking – not knowing his oxygen tank would cause the cigarette to explode in a gaseous cloud.

The tragedy occurred at St Luke’s Hospital in Dublin’s Rathgar at 5.30am when Joseph Murphy, from Walkinstown,

perished after the tragedy as he lay in his bed in a small ward he shared with two other cancer patients.

Sources reveal that his bed quickly caught fire and the blaze was intensified by his attachment to oxygen.

Two nurses rushed to Mr Murphy’s bedside when the fire alarm sounded and staff tried to put out the flames. Dublin Fire Brigade arrived promptly and the elderly man was taken to St James’s Hospital, and transferred straight to the burns unit.

However, he died hours later at the Dublin city hospital.

Two nurses who attended and two other cancer patients in the room were taken to St James’s and St Vincent’s hospitals for smoke inhalation but their injuries were not serious.

A Garda and HSE investigation have both been launched.

The Garda press office confirmed it was investigating the death when contacted yesterday. The HSE, on behalf of St Luke’s Hospital, released a statement to the Irish Daily Mail last night confirming the death on Ward A.

‘St Luke’s Hospital, Rathgar, can confirm that a fire occurred on a ward that is a transitional care unit for St James’s Hospital on Monday morning. The fire was contained to one room. The unit remains operational and patients have been accommodated elsewhere on the ward.

‘As a result of the incident, three individuals were trans- ferred to St James’s Hospital and two individuals were transferred to St Vincent’s Hospital for treatment.

‘Tragically, one patient who was transferred to St James’s Hospital has died as a result of the injuries sustained in the fire. The hospital would like to extend its sincere sympathies to the family. The incident will be investigated by the hospital and the relevant authorities.’

The widower’s family posted news of his death on website rip.ie. The notice stated that Mr Murphy died peacefully surrounded by his family at St James’s.

It added that the father of six would be ‘sadly missed’ by his children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and other relatives and friends.

There is currently a case with potential similarities before the coroner’s court in Co. Kildare.

In this, it is being examined whether the possible explosion of oxygen may have caused the death of 78-yearold Christy Byrne.

An expert report on the circumstances surrounding the death of the pensioner, who died following a fire in an ambulance at Naas General Hospital in September 2016, has yet to be provided to the investigating coroner.

Ambulance workers Stephen Lloyd and David Finnegan were also injured in the explosion.

Mr Byrne died when he was being brought to Naas General by ambulance on September 22, 2016.

A fire broke out in the vehicle at the entrance to the hospital Emergency Department and two paramedics were injured in the explosion.

At the initial inquest, it was heard it was possible that the fire may have been caused by an oxygen canister.

On December 10, the adjourned inquest was told that there are currently three investigations into the tragedy – one by gardaí, another by the Health & Safety Authority and the inquiry by the Kildare coroner, Dr Denis Cusack. At Mr Byrne’s funeral Mass in September 2016, local priest Fr McDonald described the pensioner as having a deep and enduring love for people and animals, things he would be remembered for.

The cleric said: ‘He had a particular fondness for horses, and could do anything with them, having worked with them for most of his life.

‘Christy bore the cross of illness well in recent years and never complained.

‘We thank the paramedics who were injured in this accident for their bravery and pray for them to make a full recovery from their injuries.’

In a moving tribute by his daughter Lil, Mr Byrne was described as ‘a quiet, shy man who had a simple way of life and never complained’.

She said: ‘Words can’t describe our grief. He loved his family, and adored his grandchildren.

‘He had a passion for animals of all shapes and sizes.

‘His door was always open, and from the house he could keep an eye on the comings and goings of both the birds and the cats.’ ali.bracken@dailymail.ie

The father of six will be missed Nurses rushed to help pensioner