Six children and four adults have been taken to hospital after they were exposed to chemicals that formed a “toxic cloud” in a commercial pool in south-west Sydney.
Emergency services arrived at the Swim2Me swimming facility in Prestons before 5pm on Friday following reports there was a smell of gas and chlorine with some swimmers experiencing shortness of breath.
“What has happened is a person there has inadvertently mixed two chemicals together and created a toxic cloud,” Fire and Rescue NSW Supt Adam Dewberry.
“That then initiated the evacuation of more than 30 people from the site.”
The incident was not an uncommon one, Dewberry said, with people at both commercial and private pools often inadvertently mixing chemicals. In this instance, he said it appeared like pool chlorine and hydrochloric acid had been mixed together.
Dewberry said mixing the wrong chemicals could affect the respiratory system and cause eyes to sting.
“Our message to people is to please take care as we come into the warmer months and people might be a bit rusty after winter when getting their pool ready,” he said. “Please be very careful.”
Paramedics assessed 14 people at the scene, four of whom did not want to go to hospital. Six children and four adults were taken to hospitals in Campbelltown, Liverpool and Bankstown.
Dewberry said firefighters had since diluted the toxic chemicals from the pool.
