Nine people were rushed to hospital among over 40 pool users who were overwhelmed by chemical vapour at a leisure centre in northern Melbourne.
Fire Rescue Victoria (FRV) responded to Triple-0 calls reporting the ‘smell of gas’ inside Broadmeadows Aquatic & Leisure Centre on Friday at about 6.15pm.
Firefighters arrived on scene within six minutes to find multiple people impacted by chemicals, an FRV spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia.
The crews helped Ambulance Victoria treated patients at the scene and nine people needed to be transported to hospital for further treatment.
The spokesperson said hazmat specialists wearing breathing apparatus found a positive reading for sodium hydrogen sulphate.
The substance is put into pools to lower pH levels and ensure it is safe for people to get in the water.
FRV’s spokesperson said 200 people were evacuated from the leisure centre while the specialist team ventilated the premises.
The operation was completed by 8.16pm and FRV confirmed it was safe for people to re-enter the premises.
Hume City Council, which operates Broadmeadows Aquatic & Leisure Centre, told Daily Mail Australia staff acted immediately, following procedures and evacuating the centre.
About 200 people visiting Broadmeadows Aquatic & Leisure Centre (pictured) were forced to be evacuated on Friday evening (stock image)
A parent (pictured) said the incident had left him anxiously monitoring his child
Emergency services were called to the centre after Triple-0 calls reporting a ‘smell of gas’
‘As a precaution, nine patrons were taken to hospital for assessment. They are in contact with Council and we understand they are all doing well,’ the statement said.
‘Following a thorough assessment by WorkSafe immediately after the incident, it was confirmed the facility was safe to reopen Saturday morning.
‘Council has launched an internal review to confirm the cause of the incident and ensure it does not happen again.’
WorkSafe Victoria is investigating the incident and shared a statement with Nine News on Saturday.
‘WorkSafe inspectors attended and are monitoring the workplace to ensure health and safety risks are adequately addressed,’ it said.
One parent has said the incident has made the ‘anxious’: ‘(It is) making us think about monitoring the kids for rest of the day (and over) the weekend.’
The pool reopened on Saturday morning as usual and he claimed the centre did not inform customers of what had occurred.
‘It’s the responsibility for the pool management and the management of the (Hume City) Council to at least let the people know,’ he said.
