Le Mans: A 59-year-old patient dies after a fire in his hospital room

A 59-year-old patient died following a fire that broke out Sunday in a room at the Le Mans University Hospital in the Sarthe region. Severely burned in the blaze, the man was placed in palliative care before succumbing to his injuries, the hospital administration announced in a statement released Monday. The hospital did not provide further information about the reasons for his hospitalization or his condition before the fire.

The cause of the fire is still undetermined. A judicial inquiry has been opened to establish the precise circumstances of the incident and to understand how the fire started in the room. The investigation will notably seek to determine whether the fire was caused by a technical failure, an accident, or human intervention. The establishment has not released any hypotheses at this stage.

Around ten people were poisoned by the fumes.

The fire also caused a significant amount of smoke in the building. About ten patients and healthcare professionals suffered minor injuries after inhaling it. Their condition did not require prolonged hospitalization, and they were able to return home Sunday evening after receiving the necessary treatment.

The Le Mans University Hospital is maintaining its emergency plan to ensure continuity of care and to reorganize the affected services. Additional staff will be mobilized to support the teams and assist patients affected by the incident. Hospital operations continue while the judicial investigation seeks to identify the cause of the fire and assess any potential breaches of safety regulations.