Chemical 'haze' that caused 150 people to fall ill on beach 'did not come from France'

The haze swept across beaches in the south-east, leaving over 100 people in need of medical treatment
Meaghan Spencer28 August 2017

A chemical cloud which forced coastline evacuations across East Sussex on Sunday is "very unlikely" to have floated over from northern France, authorities said.

Some 150 people required treatment for stinging eyes, sore throats and vomiting, but the effects of the unknown substance were "mostly minor", Sussex police said.

Despite the incident, thousands are expected to flock to beaches along the coastline on Bank Holiday Monday as temperatures reach up to 25C (75F).

In the past, chemicals have drifted across from European industrial units, but weather models indicate this was not the case on Sunday, according to the Met Office.

Forecaster Jay Merrell suggested a vessel in the English Channel may have been responsible for the noxious haze, but stressed nothing conclusive had been proven and that inquiries continue.

Police still do not know what caused the toxic mist to sweep across beaches

Bob Jefferey, of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) Eastbourne division, said it would be business as usual.

He said: "Whatever it was, it smelled like burnt plastic. It hung about and didn't move yesterday because there was no wind. The cloud seems to have dispersed today though.

"The hospital has downgraded the threat to pretty much non-existent now."

Mr Jefferey added that five people had to be rescued from rapidly rising tides yesterday, and urged beach-goers to watch sea levels.

People along the shoreline from Eastbourne to Birling Gap, near Beachy Head, were advised to close windows and doors on Sunday, but have been told it is now safe to open them.

Kyle Crickmore, who had been enjoying the bank holiday weekend sunshine at the beach at Birling Gap with his family, tweeted: "Some sort of chemical incident at Birling Gap, eyes are streaming and there's a strong smell of chlorine in the air".

Dan Sankey added: "Beautiful afternoon at Birling Gap cut short by some weird mist, burning everyone's eyes which led to the beach and cliff being evacuated."

Sussex police said: "Neither the gas nor its source have been established, but agencies are continuing to investigate and have not ruled out either on-shore or off-shore locations, although it does appear that it did sweep in from the sea driven by on-shore breezes.

"However, weather models suggest that an onshore source in northern France is very unlikely."

Jonathan Hill, 28, who lives around half a mile from the Birling Gap beach, said the incident had not discouraged people from flocking to the coast to enjoy the Bank Holiday weather on Monday.

133 beach-goers received emergency treatment after the mist approached

He said: "Everything appears to have cleared up completely today and people are arriving at the beach. It's maybe a bit less busy than usual but that's just my impression from what I've seen this morning."

The supermarket manager, from East Dean, returned from holiday with his girlfriend at around 4.30pm on Sunday and immediately began to suffer.

He said: "We got home, threw open the windows to air the house and quickly developed stingy eyes. Initially we thought it might be hayfever.

"It got so bad at one point I couldn't see for about five minutes, it was very hurtful to open my eyes and I had to wash them with cold water."

Members of the public alerted emergency services after inhaling mist which left them vomiting and unable to see properly

Public Health England said anyone still suffering effects from the fumes should wash irritated areas with soap and water.

The fire service has now stopped dealing with the incident and inquiries continue into the cause of the cloud.

The RNLI said that "possibly some kind of gaseous fumes" had drifted over and a significant number of people on cliff tops had been struck down with symptoms including irritation, sore eyes and vomiting.

The RNLI launched all-weather lifeboats from Eastbourne and Newhaven to the Birling Gap area after fears from the coastguard that people could be trapped on the beach.

There was a doctor on board the Eastbourne lifeboat.

UK Coastguard commander Steve Carson said: "This seems to have been caused by an unknown haze coming in from the sea, but the source has not yet been established.

"People living along the coast in the area have been advised by emergency services to keep doors and windows shut and to move away from the Birling Gap area in particular."

Eastbourne councillor Kathy Ballard described it as "a matter of definite concern," adding: "We need to find out the cause, where did this come from and to make sure that steps are taken so that it does not happen again.

"I have not heard of it happening before in this area."

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