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Aberdeen sisters among victims of tragic New County Hotel fire in Perth

Sharon McLean (left), aged 47, Donna Janse Van Rensburg, 44, and both from Aberdeen died in the fire. Image: Tayside Police.
Sharon McLean (left), aged 47, Donna Janse Van Rensburg, 44, and both from Aberdeen died in the fire. Image: Tayside Police.

Two Aberdeen sisters have been named as the victims of a horrific fire in a hotel in Perth.

Tayside police have confirmed the identity of two women and a man who died following an early morning fire – in which people were heard screaming for help – at the New County Hotel.

In a major response 60 firefighters battled the blaze in the early hours of January 2 before three victims were found inside the hotel.

They have been named as sisters Donna Janse Van Rensburg, 44, and Sharon McLean, 47, both from Aberdeen, and Keith Russell, 38, originally from Edinburgh.

Ms Janse Van Rensburg’s dog, Joey, a three year-old King Charles spaniel, also died.

A fire safety audit at the New County Hotel in Perth ordered 21 improvements  to be made just three weeks before the blaze.

Emergency services rushed to the scene of the fire on County Place in the city centre at about 5.10am on Monday morning.

Twenty-one ambulance crews, 60 firefighters and nine fire engines were at the scene of  major incident.

Donna Janse Van Rensburg and her dog Joey died. Image: Police Scotland.

Hotel guests and neighbouring flats were evacuated as the full extent of the deadly fire unravelled.

Eleven people – believed to be hotel guests and staff – were treated at the scene by the Scottish Ambulance Service.

The fire was extinguished at about 6.30am and the bodies were discovered in a subsequent search.

The fire at the New County Hotel is the first fatal blaze to occur at a Scottish hotel since 2017.

The families of Ms Janse Van Rensburg, Ms Mclean and Mr Russell have asked for privacy.

‘Greatly missed’

Mr Russell’s family released a statement describing him as a family man.

It read: “Keith was a loving father and loved by all his family. He will be greatly missed.”

The incident happened just after 5am on Monday, January 2, at the hotel on County Place in Perth.

Keith Russell, 38, originally from Edinburgh. Image: Tayside Police.

Chief Superintendent Phil Davison said: “Our thoughts continue to be with the family and friends of those who died as well as the many people affected by this incident.

“A joint investigation with the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service is ongoing and a report will be sent to the procurator fiscal.

“I would like to again thank all the emergency services and partner agencies involved as well as the local community for their patience while enquiries are carried out.”

Some of the hotel’s staff returned to the scene on Thursday afternoon to pay their respects and reflect on the tragedy.

The New County Hotel. Image: Steve MacDougall/DC Thomson

Earlier this week, Deputy First Minister John Swinney said he was “concerned” to hear about issues reported by guests in the weeks leading up to the blaze.

Deputy first minister John Swinney expressed his shock on social media.

‘Heart-breaking news’

He said: “This is heart-breaking news, and my thoughts are with the victims of this tragedy, along with their friends and families.

“I would like to put on record my thanks to the emergency services for their quick response and the steps that they have taken to secure the site.”

Meanwhile, Pete Wishart, MP for the area, posted: “This is simply awful news.

“Really hoped that they had got everyone out. Thoughts with family and friends.”

Our sister newspaper, The Courier exclusively revealed that the hotel was told to make 21 improvements following an inspection on December 12, three weeks before the fire.

A week later owner Rashid Hussain was served three health and safety notices by Perth and Kinross Council, one of which said guests did not feel safe at night.

Mr Hussain has not responded to repeated requests for comment on the fire and safety concerns.

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