Latest news with #MVClansman
Telegraph
01-04-2025
- Telegraph
British tourist dies after suspected gas explosion at Rome B&B
A British tourist who was badly burned in a gas explosion while on holiday in Rome has died of his injuries. Grant Paterson, 54, was on a solo trip to the Italian capital and staying in rented accommodation in the Monteverde district when the explosion happened last month. Days before the blast, he had written a curious note on Facebook, saying: 'This should be a good week ... if I don't get killed in some ungodly way.' The explosion – the cause of which is still being investigated – left him with severe burns on around 70 per cent of his body. After being dug out of the rubble, he was taken to Rome's Sant'Eugenio hospital where doctors performed several operations. A few days ago, doctors said that Mr Paterson was being intubated with 'mechanically assisted breathing' and was not conscious. The death of Mr Paterson, from East Kilbride in Lanarkshire, was announced on Tuesday. Roberto Gualtieri, the mayor of Rome, offered his condolences to the Briton's family and said the whole city was shocked by his passing. 'The death of Grant Paterson, the Scottish tourist in the explosion in Monteverde, is news that saddens the whole of Rome,' said Mr Gualtieri. 'I would like to express to his loved ones and to all his countrymen my personal condolences as well as those of the city. I truly hope that the investigations underway can swiftly bring clarity to this terrible accident.' 'A true gentleman' Mr Paterson was employed by the Scottish ferry operator Caledonian MacBrayne (CalMac). He worked on board a ferry called the MV Clansman, part of a fleet which connects the Scottish mainland to islands like Harris, Iona, Eigg and Muck. Diane Burke, chief operation officer for CalMac, said: 'Everyone at CalMac is distraught that Grant has passed away. He was a true gentleman and a credit to MV Clansman, the vessel he served aboard. 'During a distinguished 12-year career with us, he embodied the very best of CalMac and, with his larger-than-life character, he was much loved by colleagues and passengers alike. Our thoughts are with Grant's friends and family at this extremely difficult time.' Mr Paterson had arrived in Rome on March 17. On Facebook, he said he was excited to explore the city and was staying in 'beautiful accommodation'. Six days later, he was badly hurt in the explosion, which devastated the centuries-old building he was staying in. Firefighters and police are investigating the blast, but reports suggest they believe it was an accident involving a gas leak. In another strange twist, it emerged that Roberto Saviano, a well-known Italian author who has lived under police protection since writing a book about the Camorra mafia of Naples, lived in the property until recently. In a post on Instagram, he wrote: 'How heartbreaking to see rubble in a place where I loved to live.'
Sky News
01-04-2025
- Sky News
Grant Paterson: British tourist dies in hospital after being injured in Rome explosion
A British tourist who was seriously injured after a suspected gas explosion destroyed a three-storey B&B in Rome has died. Grant Paterson, 54, from East Kilbride in South Lanarkshire, was left severely burned following the blast in the Monteverde area of the Italian city on 23 March. Mr Paterson, an employee with Scottish ferry operator CalMac, was pulled out of the ruins by firefighters and was taken to Sant'Eugenio Hospital for treatment. Hospital officials told Sky News that Mr Paterson died on Tuesday morning. Diane Burke, CalMac's chief operating officer, said: "Everyone at CalMac is distraught that Grant has passed away. "He was a true gentleman and a credit to MV Clansman, the vessel he served aboard. "During a distinguished 12-year career with us, he embodied the very best of CalMac and, with his larger-than-life character, he was much-loved by colleagues and passengers alike. "Our thoughts are with Grant's friends and family at this extremely difficult time." A post-mortem examination is set to be ordered by the prosecutor. A criminal investigation is currently under way and is probing potential culpable disaster and manslaughter. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) said: "We are supporting the family of a British man who died in Italy and are in touch with the local authorities." Mr Paterson was said to have suffered third-degree burns to at least 70% of his body. A witness at the scene said Mr Paterson was screaming under the collapsed building before being saved by the emergency crew. A neighbour reported that the explosion made his house windows shake, while another witness thought it had been a bomb or an earthquake. It is understood Mr Paterson arrived in Rome on 17 March and was due to return home on 24 March. The B&B, named Mamma Roma, was on Via Vitellia in the busy neighbourhood of Monteverde, in the southwest part of Rome. Flying debris from the explosion, which occurred at around 8.40am and led to evacuations, damaged several cars and part of the wall of Villa Doria Pamphili - a seventeenth-century villa which also serves as the representative seat of the Italian government. Rome's Public Prosecutors' Offices has opened an investigation into the case. At the moment, it is a suspected gas leak. A crowdfunder for Mr Paterson's family was launched following the incident, with more than £11,000 raised so far.
The Independent
01-04-2025
- The Independent
British tourist dies after gas explosion destroys B&B in Rome
A Scottish tourist has died after a gas explosion destroyed a three-storey B&B in Rome. Grant Paterson, 54, from East Kilbride, South Lanarkshire, was reportedly severely burned after the explosion in the Monteverde area of the city at about 8.30am on March 22, and died from his injuries. Mr Paterson, a CalMac employee, was pulled out of the ruins but was believed to have suffered extensive burns, according to local news site Roma Today. He was understood to be receiving treatment at Sant'Eugenio hospital, but on Tuesday, his employers confirmed he had died. Social media posts show Mr Paterson had visited famous sites such as the Colosseum and the Pantheon before the explosion. Roberto Gualtieri, the Mayor of Rome, visited the scene and told reporters he had ordered a full investigation into the explosion. He said: 'We don't know his exact condition, but he suffered burns, and this also suggests that it was an explosion caused by gas, which also causes flames. 'It was a very loud explosion, a building collapsed and the wall of Villa Pamphili was also damaged.' A fundraiser for Mr Paterson's family has raised £11,665. Mr Paterson's CalMac colleagues offered their support to his family, and described him as a 'larger-than-life character' in a tribute. Diane Burke, CalMac's chief operating officer, said: 'Everyone at CalMac is distraught that Grant has passed away. 'He was a true gentleman and a credit to MV Clansman, the vessel he served aboard. 'During a distinguished 12-year career with us, he embodied the very best of CalMac and, with his larger-than-life character, he was much-loved by colleagues and passengers alike. 'Our thoughts are with Grant's friends and family at this extremely difficult time.' The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office said: 'We are supporting the family of a British man who died in Italy and are in touch with the local authorities.'
Yahoo
01-04-2025
- Yahoo
Scottish tourist dies after Rome holiday explosion
A Scottish tourist has died from his injuries after his holiday home was destroyed in a suspected gas explosion. Grant Paterson, from East Kilbride, was on a break in Rome when the B&B in the city's Monteverde area collapsed on 23 March. The 54-year-old, who worked for ferry operator CalMac as a senior catering rating, was understood to have suffered burns on 75% of his body after the explosion. His employer described him as a "true gentleman" and said colleagues were "distraught" at his death. Mr Paterson had arrived in Rome a few days before the building collapsed. More stories from Glasgow & West Scotland More stories from Scotland Diane Burke, CalMac's Chief Operating Officer, said: "Everyone at CalMac is distraught that Grant has passed away. He was a true gentleman and a credit to MV Clansman, the vessel he served aboard. "During a distinguished 12-year career with us, he embodied the very best of CalMac and, with his larger-than-life character, he was much-loved by colleagues and passengers alike. "Our thoughts are with Grant's friends and family at this extremely difficult time." In a statement the mayor of Rome, Roberto Gualtieri, said the news "saddens all of Rome". He added: " I want to express my personal condolences and those of the entire city to his loved ones and fellow citizens. I sincerely hope that the investigations into the incident will swiftly shed light on this terrible accident." Mayor Gualtieri had already ordered an investigation into the collapse. At the time of the incident he said the burns suggested an "explosion caused by gas, which also causes flames." He added: "It was a very loud explosion, a building collapsed and the wall of Villa Pamphili was also damaged." Social media posts show Mr Paterson visited famous sites such as the Colosseum and the Pantheon before the explosion. A fundraiser organised by a friend of Mr Paterson and aimed at raising funds for him and his daughter had raised over £12,000. A spokesperson for the Foreign Office said: "We are supporting the family of a British man who died in Italy and are in touch with the local authorities."
Yahoo
01-04-2025
- Yahoo
Tourist dies after gas explosion in Rome
A Scottish tourist has died after a gas explosion destroyed a three-storey B&B in Rome. Grant Paterson, 54, from East Kilbride, South Lanarkshire, was reportedly severely burned after the explosion in the Monteverde area of the city at about 8.30am on March 22, and died from his injuries. Mr Paterson, a CalMac employee, was pulled out of the ruins but was believed to have suffered extensive burns, according to local news site Roma Today. He was understood to be receiving treatment at Sant'Eugenio hospital, but on Tuesday, his employers confirmed he had died. Social media posts show Mr Paterson had visited famous sites such as the Colosseum and the Pantheon before the explosion. Roberto Gualtieri, the Mayor of Rome, visited the scene and told reporters he had ordered a full investigation into the explosion. He said: 'We don't know his exact condition, but he suffered burns, and this also suggests that it was an explosion caused by gas, which also causes flames. 'It was a very loud explosion, a building collapsed and the wall of Villa Pamphili was also damaged.' A fundraiser for Mr Paterson's family has raised £11,665. Mr Paterson's CalMac colleagues offered their support to his family, and described him as a 'larger-than-life character' in a tribute. Diane Burke, CalMac's chief operating officer, said: 'Everyone at CalMac is distraught that Grant has passed away. 'He was a true gentleman and a credit to MV Clansman, the vessel he served aboard. 'During a distinguished 12-year career with us, he embodied the very best of CalMac and, with his larger-than-life character, he was much-loved by colleagues and passengers alike. 'Our thoughts are with Grant's friends and family at this extremely difficult time.' The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office has been contacted for comment.
