Man suffers burns in '˜chemical incident' in St Leonards

A man has been rushed to hospital with burns after he came into contact with a corrosive substance in St Leonards this afternoon (July 14).
The Kent Air Ambulance on the beach by Marine Court. Picture by Paul Ashton. SUS-160714-175404001The Kent Air Ambulance on the beach by Marine Court. Picture by Paul Ashton. SUS-160714-175404001
The Kent Air Ambulance on the beach by Marine Court. Picture by Paul Ashton. SUS-160714-175404001

Three men were cleaning toilets in a building in Marine Court shortly after 4pm when they spilled five litres of the chemical potassium hydroxide, which is used to clean pipes.

Firefighters hosed one man down before he was taken to the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton by ambulance.

It is not yet known how serious the man’s injuries are.

The Kent Air Ambulance on the beach by Marine Court. Picture by Paul Ashton. SUS-160714-175404001The Kent Air Ambulance on the beach by Marine Court. Picture by Paul Ashton. SUS-160714-175404001
The Kent Air Ambulance on the beach by Marine Court. Picture by Paul Ashton. SUS-160714-175404001
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Others on the scene are undergoing ‘decontamination procedures’ according to East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service.

The incident has been reported to the Health and Safety Executive.

Sussex Police told the Observer that the building has been evacuated for safety reasons and a 25 metre cordon has been set up.

The emergency services, including firefighters from Hastings, Battle, Bexhill and Eastbourne, are still on the scene.

A man is taken to hospital following a chemical spill in a building in Marine Court. Picture by Paul Ashton. SUS-160714-175415001A man is taken to hospital following a chemical spill in a building in Marine Court. Picture by Paul Ashton. SUS-160714-175415001
A man is taken to hospital following a chemical spill in a building in Marine Court. Picture by Paul Ashton. SUS-160714-175415001
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The Kent Air Ambulance was also scrambled and landed on the beach.

The road has been closed to traffic and long queues are building.

Motorists are being advised to avoid the area.

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Emergency services at the scene of an incident in Marine Court. Photo by Charlotte Howard. SUS-160714-174213001Emergency services at the scene of an incident in Marine Court. Photo by Charlotte Howard. SUS-160714-174213001
Emergency services at the scene of an incident in Marine Court. Photo by Charlotte Howard. SUS-160714-174213001

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Air ambulance landing on St Leonards beach. Photo by Charlotte Howard. SUS-160714-174506001Air ambulance landing on St Leonards beach. Photo by Charlotte Howard. SUS-160714-174506001
Air ambulance landing on St Leonards beach. Photo by Charlotte Howard. SUS-160714-174506001
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