A tragic incident occurred at Belfast hospital when a man lost his life due to a fire in the emergency department. The Royal Victoria Hospital faced a fire emergency on Wednesday evening originating from a bathroom. Emergency services swiftly responded to the blaze in the accident and emergency (A&E) unit, where the man sustained burns and eventually passed away in the hospital.
Authorities, including police, ambulance, and fire crews, were on the scene to manage the situation. A PSNI spokesperson confirmed the man’s death, clarifying that it is not currently under suspicion. The Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service (NIFRS) deployed multiple resources and personnel to handle the incident successfully.
The main waiting area and reception of the hospital’s emergency department were temporarily closed, redirecting patients through alternate entrances and diverting some ambulances to other hospitals. The Northern Ireland Ambulance Service also rerouted patients to different emergency departments until the situation was resolved.
Local MP Paul Maskey expressed condolences to the man’s family and praised the efforts of the emergency services. The Sinn Féin politician extended sympathies to the bereaved family and acknowledged the hard work of the responders during the tragic event.
