A man has died in a fire in an ambulance outside Naas General Hospital.
Health Service Executive Chief Executive Tony O’Brien this evening confirmed that the death was as a direct result of the fire.
Mr O'Brien said one possible cause being examined relates to the oxygen tanks on the vehicle.
A safety action notice has been issued to all other ambulance crews around the country as a result.
HSE Chief Tony O’Brien: Investigations by gardaí, HSA, HSE after man’s death in Naas https://t.co/NIFordrNYE
— RTÉ News (@rtenews) September 22, 2016
Two paramedics were injured in the fire. One has since been discharged while the second remains in hospital for observation after he suffered burn injuries.
The area where the fire occurred has been sealed off for a technical examination.
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The Emergency Department at the hospital was evacuated after the fire broke out at around 2pm but has now re-opened and is taking both walk-in and ambulance admissions.
Patients were transferred to other hospitals and the hospital's emergency plan was activated in the wake of the incident.
The hospital has also requested that members of the public refrain from visiting.
In a statement, the Health Service Executive said the Health and Safety Authority and gardaí have been informed and a full investigation is under way into the incident.
Mr O'Brien there will be a joint investigation by An Garda Síochána and the Health and Safety Authority, as well as a separate investigation by the HSE following the "unbelievable tragedy" at Naas General Hospital.
He said he had spoken with the man's family to advise them of the investigations and said they wished to appeal to the media to respect their privacy at this time.
He said out of respect to the deceased and his family, the HSE will not be issuing any information which may "identify either the victim of this tragic incident or his family".
Mr O'Brien said there was an explosion at the back of the ambulance, which was in service for around a year, destroying most of it.
He said there is an immediate concern that oxygen may have played a part in the explosion, and that is why the safety notice has been issued.
He described the actions of the two paramedics as heroic and said they were both injured in the course of trying to save their patient.
Both paramedics are said to be doing well.
Mr O'Brien also praised the actions of hospital staff in dealing with the incident.
The ambulance leaves Naas General tonight. @rtenews pic.twitter.com/fPVODwDgkZ
— Conor Hunt (@conorfhunt) September 22, 2016
The Minister for Health travelled to the hospital to extend his sympathies to the man's family.
Simon Harris also paid tribute to the staff "on what was an extremely difficult and upsetting day".
In a statement, Chief Executive of the Dublin Midlands Hospital Group Dr Susan O'Reilly expressed condolences on behalf of the group to the man's family.
She said both paramedics responded heroically in the immediate aftermath of the incident.
Dr O'Reilly also paid tribute to the medical, nursing and management staff at the hospital for their response and for the safe evacuation of the ED and transfer of patients to other hospitals.
She said it is likely that the ED will re-open for "walk-in attendances" this evening and ambulance services will resume after that.
