24 need treatment after chemical incident at Fareham hotel

A number of children were among 24 people who needed hospital treatment following a chemical incident at a hotel spa.

Firefighters and paramedics were called to the Solent Hotel and Spa in Whiteley, Hampshire, at 8.44pm on Monday evening after guests began to suffer breathing problems.

A spokesman for Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service (HIWFRS) said chlorine gas had been accidentally created in the spa area of the hotel.

The Hazardous Area Response Team (Hart) and firefighters from Hightown, Fareham, Cosham, Portchester, St Mary's and Romsey attended the scene, as well as crews from South Central Ambulance Service (SCAS).

The spokesman said: "Crews were called following reports that a number of hotel guests had been overcome by fumes in the spa area after two chemicals had accidentally been mixed together and created chlorine gas.

"Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service began immediate emergency care, set up a casualty handling area and requested the ambulance service to attend.

"A ventilation fan was used to clear the fumes and firefighters took the vessel containing chemicals to fresh air. Gas monitors were used to check that the scene was safe."

Station manager Dave Graham said: "This was a large-scale incident with multiple people requiring medical treatment for the inhalation of gas.

"We worked well alongside our colleagues from SCAS and SCAS Hart to make sure that everyone received the help they needed and to ensure that the scene was made safe.

"We handed the incident over to the hotel management."

On its Facebook page, the Solent Hotel and Spa said: "We can confirm that an incident occurred within the spa and fitness areas of the Solent Hotel and Spa last night.

"Our main priority is our guests’ and team members’ health and wellbeing and we temporarily evacuated the hotel. We are pleased to say that the hotel is open and the spa and fitness facilities re-opened as normal this morning.

"We thank you for your understanding and support at this time and look forward to welcoming you soon."

An SCAS spokeswoman said: "We sent to the scene four ambulance officers, our Hazardous Area Response Team and eight ambulance crews, who worked closely alongside partners from Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service to respond to the situation and to care for those who needed medical attention.

"Twenty-four patients, ranging from children to those in their 50s, were assessed and treated by our ambulance teams for breathing difficulties.

"Following treatment at the scene by our crews, those patients were taken to University Hospital Southampton for further assessment for those non life-threatening injuries."