Sainsbury’s supermarket is evacuated as up to seven shoppers collapse
Sainsbury’s shoppers ‘COLLAPSE’ with mystery breathing difficulties after ‘hazardous substance incident’: Paramedics treat seven people after evacuation of supermarket and nearby buildings
Around 150 shoppers were evacuated from the Sainsbury’s store in BirminghamAt least seven shoppers are said to have collapsed with ‘breathing difficulties’The cause of the issue has not yet been identified with police investigating
<!–
<!–
<!–<!–
<!–
(function (src, d, tag){
var s = d.createElement(tag), prev = d.getElementsByTagName(tag)[0];
s.src = src;
prev.parentNode.insertBefore(s, prev);
}(“https://www.dailymail.co.uk/static/gunther/1.17.0/async_bundle–.js”, document, “script”));
<!–
DM.loadCSS(“https://www.dailymail.co.uk/static/gunther/gunther-2159/video_bundle–.css”);
<!–
A Sainsbury’s supermarket has been evacuated after a ‘hazardous substance incident’ which saw seven shoppers collapse with breathing difficulties and two taken to hospital.
Emergency services were called to the superstore in Longbridge, Birmingham, at around 10am this morning.
Around 150 shoppers were evacuated and people were cleared from other buildings in the area while paramedics treated seven people at the scene.
The cause of the issue has not yet been identified and West Midlands Police are currently investigating.
West Midlands Fire Service’s website classed it as a ‘hazardous substances’ incident while witnesses described a suspected chemical leak involving ‘some sort of gas’.
A 160ft cordon is currently in place around the scene.
Shoppers have been evacuated from Sainsbury’s in Longbridge in Birmingham after seven people ‘collapsed with breathing difficulties’
Around 150 shoppers were evacuated and people were cleared from other buildings in the area while paramedics treated seven people at the scene
One onlooker said: ‘The police have said there’s been an incident involving some sort of gas. People were on the floor gasping for air after collapsing.
‘I’ve never seen anything like it, there’s emergency services everywhere. Students from City College have been evacuated too and a couple of other shops I think.
‘I heard somebody had let something off in the store but police wouldn’t confirm that to me. They are just telling everyone to leave the area.’
A spokesperson for West Midlands Ambulance Service said: ‘Sainsburys and other nearby buildings were evacuated after several people inside the supermarket experienced respiratory problems.
‘A total of seven patients were assessed by the ambulance service after displaying minor respiratory problems.
‘Two women received treatment on scene before being conveyed by ambulance, in a stable condition, to Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham for further checks.
‘The remaining five patients were later discharged on scene.
‘A number of other people at the scene, who were described as ‘worried but well’, received advice from the team of ambulance staff.’
West Midlands Fire Service said: ‘Two people who were in the store have been taken to hospital.
‘Our specialist officers are using air monitoring equipment inside the store to try and establish the cause of the incident.
A spokesperson for West Midlands Ambulance Service said: ‘Sainsburys and other nearby buildings were evacuated after several people inside the supermarket experienced respiratory problems’
West Midlands Fire Service’s website classed it as a ‘hazardous substances’ incident while witnesses described a suspected chemical leak involving ‘some sort of gas’
The fire service said 150 people were evacuated from the supermarket in Longbridge, south west of Birmingham, just before 10am on Friday after people in the store began suffering respiratory problems
West Midlands Fire Service said: ‘Two people who were in the store have been taken to hospital’
‘We are working closely with the store management, as well as our ambulance and police colleagues and Birmingham City Council. Around 150 people were evacuated from the store.
‘A nearby college building was not evacuated, but advised to keep windows closed as a precaution.’
A force spokesperson said: ‘Shortly before 10am on Friday 20 May we were alerted to an incident at the Sainsbury’s supermarket on High Street, Longbridge, Birmingham. A number of people had reported feeling unwell, with apparent breathing difficulties.
‘Two fire engines and one of our 4×4 Brigade Response vehicles responded, from Northfield and Kings Norton fire stations, together with a number of officers and colleagues from the police and ambulance services.
‘The store had been evacuated before we arrived. A 50-metre cordon was put in place around the store. Other premises within the cordon were also evacuated.
‘The six patients are being treated by paramedics at the scene.
‘Anyone who has been in the area and is feeling unwell should seek medical advice as a precaution.’
