COUNTY NEWS: Family release photo of Sussex hospice fire victim

The family of a man who died following a fire at a Sussex hospice in the early hours of Saturday (July 11) have released a photograph of him.
David DennessDavid Denness
David Denness

David Denness, 81, was a patient at St Michael’s Hospice in St Leonards and was taken to hospital suffering from smoke inhalation following the fire.

He sadly died several hours later.

In a statement, his family said: “We would like to thank all the emergency services involved, the staff at the Conquest Hospital and especially the St Michael’s Hospice team. Our thoughts are with every family involved in these very sad circumstances.

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“We ask that our privacy is respected and we will not be making any further comment.”

Officers are waiting to question a man arrested on suspicion of murder following a fire. The 67-year-old suspect, who is known to the hospice, is ill in hospital.

He was initially arrested for arson with intent to endanger life on Saturday but was then further arrested on two counts of suspicion of murder on Sunday (July 12).

Fire, ambulance and police all declared the fire a major incident and 23 patients and nine staff were all evacuated.

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