A woman died after becoming trapped in a care home lift on Herne Bay seafront.

Joan Daws suffered a cardiac arrest while stuck in the elevator at the Laleham residential home in Central Parade.

Fire crews freed her using a metal bar before paramedics performed CPR in a desperate attempt to revive her.

She was taken to Margate’s QEQM Hospital in a serious condition but later died.

Canterbury City Council’s’s head of neighbourhood services Larissa Reed says an investigation has been launched into what happened at the care home on the morning of the incident.

She said: “The council is currently in the early stages of an investigation into an accident at the Laleham residential home on October 16.

“Sadly, the lady involved in the accident died a few days after being admitted to hospital.

“Our sympathies and thoughts are with the family and friends of Joan at this sad time" - Kent County Residential Homes

“We are unable to provide any further information at this stage of the investigation but would like to offer our sincere condolences to her family.”

The Health and Safety Executive confirmed the investigation was being led by the city council, but said it had been asked to provide specialist support.

Laleham, which cares for about 60 people aged over 65, was given a glowing report from the Care Quality Commision after a routine inspection in February.

In the report, an inspector wrote: “There were risk assessments in place that provided guidance to staff to minimise potential risks.”

A spokesman for the care home's owner, Kent County Residential Homes Ltd, said: “Our sympathies and thoughts are with the family and friends of Joan at this sad time.

“We take health and safety matters very seriously and are working with Canterbury City Council’s environmental health department.”

An inquest into the death has been opened and adjourned.