Fifteen people were rushed to hospital after a suspected chlorine leak at a leisure centre and water park in Derbyshire sparked a major emergency response.
Visitors were evacuated from Moorways Sports Village in Allenton on Thursday afternoon after reports of a potential chemical incident at the Moor Lane facility.
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Emergency services were called to the venue shortly after 1.30pm, with the East Midlands Ambulance Service receiving the first alert at 1.33pm. Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service was alerted five minutes later.
A total of 15 people were taken to Royal Derby Hospital after suffering breathing difficulties linked to the suspected leak.
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The East Midlands Ambulance Service said: “We sent our Hazardous Area Response Team, two duty commanders in response cars, and six ambulances.
“Fifteen patients have been taken to Royal Derby Hospital.”
Firefighters from Derbyshire stations at Ascot Drive and Kingsway were joined by colleagues from Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service’s Stapleford station.
A specialist Environmental Protection Unit from Stockhill was also deployed.
Police also attended the scene as emergency crews worked to establish the source and extent of the suspected chlorine leak.
One mother, who was visiting the centre with her son, said she developed a headache before noticing other visitors struggling to breathe.
“My throat felt really dry and made me start coughing, so we went into the inflatable pool but we left at 1.40pm,” she told DerbyshireLive.
“But in the changing rooms loads of people were coughing, so we hurried up out of there.”
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During the incident, local residents were urged to avoid the area while Osmaston Park Road was closed at its junction with Moor Lane to allow emergency vehicles access.
Moorways Sports Village later confirmed on Facebook that it would remain closed for the rest of the day.
“All swimming lessons, water park visits and any other bookings today are cancelled,” the venue said.
“We will provide a further update at a later time. We apologise for any inconvenience caused.”
Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service said its crews were “working closely with colleagues from Derbyshire Constabulary and East Midlands Ambulance Service” throughout the operation.
The facility was evacuated as a precaution while emergency services investigated the suspected chemical leak.
Exposure to chlorine can irritate the eyes, nose and throat, and cause coughing and breathing difficulties.
In more serious cases, it can lead to severe lung damage, including toxic pneumonitis or pulmonary oedema, with very high concentrations potentially proving fatal.
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