Death toll from Australia nursing home fire reaches 11

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SYDNEY — The death toll continues to rise nearly two weeks after a fatal fire at a western Sydney nursing home, with an 11th fatality yesterday.

Fire ripped through the Quakers Hill Nursing Home early in the morning on November 18.

An 83-year-old woman died in the burns unit of Royal North Shore Hospital yesterday from injuries sustained in the blaze.

The bodies of three elderly residents were found immediately after the fire was put out, while eight have now died in hospitals from burns and smoke inhalation.

Several more residents remain in hospital.

A registered nurse working at the home, 35-year-old Roger Dean, has been charged with eight counts of murder over the fire.

Dean chose not to appear in Sydney's Central Local Court last week.

He is being held in custody until his next court date in February, while police continue to prepare a brief of evidence against him.

Police have not ruled out laying further charges.

Detectives say the pre-dawn fire began in two separate parts of the home.

Last week hundreds of mourners gathered at Quakers Hill Anglican Church to remember those killed and injured in the fire.

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