Waterworld bosses have hit out at the emergency services for 'over-reacting' after the attraction was evacuated on Wednesday afternoon (June 8). The 'distressing' incident at the leisure park saw two people taken to hospital and 46 treated at the scene - but the bosses at the Festival Park attraction said the incident was 'blown all out of proportion'.
A 'number of visitors' had complained of feeling unwell, prompting more than 100 people to be evacuated from the centre around 2pm. Emergency services said some people at the attraction reported 'eye and throat irritation and nausea' during their visit.
A spokesman for Waterworld said there was a 'huge over-reaction' to the incident, according to StokeonTrent Live. He said: “This has been completely blown out of proportion. The huge over-reaction from emergency services was incredibly distressing for our customers and our staff.
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“We had received a small number of reports from customers about irritation to their eyes and throat, and were dealing with the situation. At no time was there any need for the emergency services to be called.
“Despite stringent tests from our in-house team, and the emergency services using their own specialist equipment, no harmful gases, liquids or other substances of any kind were found in the water, and air samples for chlorine gas levels came back as normal.
“We will be closing Waterworld tomorrow as a precautionary measure, however, to carry out further tests. The safety and comfort of our guests is always our number one priority.”
The incident saw Staffordshire Police, Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service, West Midlands Ambulance Service and the Air Ambulance all called to the scene on Wednesday afternoon.
Some visitors to the park "reported eye and throat irritation and nausea", Staffordshire Police said. The force said in a later statement: "Officers remain in attendance at Waterworld, Festival Way, Stoke-on-Trent. We continue to support colleagues from Staffordshire Fire and Rescue and WMAS as they assess those who have presented as unwell at the scene."
StokeonTrent Live said they had been unable to contact the emergency services for a reaction to Waterworld's statement this evening.
