Four taken to hospital after chemical incident at Warblington School

Warblington School. Picture: GoogleWarblington School. Picture: Google
Warblington School. Picture: Google

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Three adults and a child have been taken to hospital after a chemical incident at school this morning.

Hundreds of children were evacuated from Warblington School, in Havant, after a ‘chemical smell’ was reported to emergency services.

Five fire crews – about 25 firefighters – from across Southsea, Cosham, Havant and Winchester were mobilised to the Southleigh Road school, as well as a hazardous materials truck from Winchester and a command unit.

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A total of three teachers and two pupils were initially affected by the incident, the school said, with an official from Hampshire Fire and Rescue confirming three adults and a teenager had been taken to Queen Alexandra Hospital, in Cosham, as a precaution.

The rest of pupils and staff were evacuated into the sports hall while firefighters tackled the incident.

A statement on the school’s website confirmed the incident and warned parents to stay away from the site.

“There has been an incident at the school,” it said. “The emergency services are in attendance and investigating a smell.

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“There are no chemicals involved and students and staff are safe in the sports hall.

“There are five people who have been affected, three teachers and two children and their parents have been contacted individually.

Parents are respectfully requested not to attend the school and we will update this message when we have further information.”

A spokesman from Hampshire Fire and Rescue said officers used two breathing apparatuses and a ventilation machine to assess the school.

Police were also called to the scene.

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“After the search, there was no evidence found of any chemicals,” the spokesman added.

“The incident has been handed over to the head teacher.”

Firefighters left the scene at 11.44am.

Warblington School is a mixed comprehensive school for pupils aged 11 to 16.

It has more than 670 pupils.

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