Dozens of people were taken to hospital with breathing problems today after a bungled delivery to the London 2012 Aquatics Centre sparked a ‘chemical reaction’ that led to deadly Chlorine gas being pumped out.
With people who inhaled the toxic substance in the carpark, more than 200 people were removed from the arena.
29 individuals were taken to the hospital, where they kept it closed off for 5 hours. One patient was taken to hospital by a paramedic while many swimmers were still wearing their goggles and trunks. They were then wrapped up in foil blankets in order to stay warm.
Almost 50 people needed care at the scene in east London, just yards from West Ham United’s world famous London Stadium.
London Fire Brigade stated that a high quantity of chlorine gas was released from the Aquatics Centre in Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, London. This happened due to a chemical reaction. According to the Aquatics Centre, the incident occurred when the facility management company took possession of the pool chemicals.
Photographs from the scene show a blue car with several tanks of chloric acid left outside. It is not known what happened next, but for safety reasons, experts recommend that hydrochloric acid and pool chlorine should never be stored together – and should absolutely never, ever be mixed, under any circumstances – because they can cause the release of chlorine gas.
If inhaled, chlorine gas is a deadly substance that has even been used to weaponize war. You may also experience shortness of breathing, blurred vision and burning sensations in your nose, throat, and eyes.
London Ambulance Service stated that 29 individuals were transported to the hospital by London’s Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.
Darren Farmer (London Ambulance Service’s gold commander) said that they responded this morning to a major incident in Stratford at the London Aquatic Centre. He was joined by colleagues from the Metropolitan Police and London Fire Brigade.
The significant amount of resources sent included 13 ambulance crews with advanced paramedics, 2 fast response car medics, 2 incident officers, 1 medical adviser, and 3 members of the hazardous area team (HART).
“We also sent medics to London from the Air Ambulance. We took in 29 patients and evaluated 48 others. Majority of the patients had minor breathing difficulties.
LAS stated that it had reacted shortly after 3pm.
Following a gas-related incident in London, a truck carrying hydrochloric acids was left parked outside of the Aquatics Centre at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.
Paramedics treat a person as the emergency services leave London Aquatics Centre, London’s Olympic Park.
22 ambulances and several fire engines at the London 2012 Aquatics Centre (right of picture) after people became ill after a release of Chlorine gas
After the release of chlorine gas from a chemical reaction, a major incident was declared in the capital
After a London chemical reaction, deadly gas released in London caused a swimmer to be taken from the pool wearing only his swim goggles.
After the delivery error, all swimmers, trainers and staff at the pool had to be evacuated.
Pictured outside Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park are emergency vehicles
As emergency services evacuate the people at London Aquatics Centre, on March 23, 2022, ambulances arrived
After a gas-related incident at London Aquatics Centre, emergency services were called to the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, near the Aquatics Centre.
An emergency response team plans to go into the London 2012 Aquatics Centre. The centre is currently being ventilated because of the deadly gas released.
The emergency services reported a major incident that required the evacuation of large numbers of buildings.
Video footage from the air showed people using coloured mats in the parking lot.
It is located near West Ham United’s London Stadium.
The Aquatics Centre was ventilated for most of the day and the Mayor of London has urged people to avoid the area.
“Due to chemical reactions, a large quantity of chlorine gas were released. London Ambulance Service is treating many patients, according to a London Fire Brigade spokesperson.
He said that around 200 people were evacuated. We ask residents to keep their doors and windows closed while we ventilate the area.
After a toxic substance was leaked into the structure containing the diving and swimming areas, the London Ambulance Service was called to the Olympic Park in East London just before 10am.
Some people described feeling dizzy and unable to breathe due to headaches. Some even fell on the asphalt, while others slept on their stomachs.
A spokesman for the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park tweeted: ‘There has been an incident @AquaticsCentre this morning involving the release of a gas.
The area has been evacuated and is now being cordoned off. The emergency services are being assisted on the site. There are a number of casualties with breathing difficulties being treated by @Ldn_Ambulance’.
Photos from the scene show more than 20 ambulances outside the closed off building, and three fire trucks. The police were also present. Paramedics treated patients in the parking lot from footage taken by helicopter.
At 10:10, officers evacuated the swimming-pool and sealed off surrounding areas in Stratford East London.
According to a spokesperson for Scotland Yard, the following was said by London Fire Brigade: “Officers were alerted Wednesday morning at 9.53am by London Fire Brigade about noxious fumes leaking from Queen Elizabeth Park’s Aquatics Centre.”
“Officers” and the London Ambulance Service were also on scene. Numerous people were evacuated.
Multiple resources were sent by the London Ambulance Service to respond to the emergency.
Twitter: A spokesperson said that they were responding to the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park incident and had a variety of resources available.
London Aquatics Centre, with its unique sloped roof and distinctive design is an iconic landmark of the Olympic Park.
British Olympic diver Tom Daley takes a dip in the Aquatics Centre dive pool. This is where the London 2012 Olympic Games will be held. Today, it was evacuated.
Photographs showed numerous police cars, ambulances and fire engines parking near ArcelorMittal Orbit’s 114-meter slide.
Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London, advised Londoners to stay clear of this area as he worked with emergency service personnel.
On Twitter, he wrote: “I am in close contact to our emergency services who were dealing with the gas-related incident this morning at London Aquatics Centre.”
@LdnAmbulance is treating a number of patients. The area has been evacuated and cordoned off.