County news: Man suffers burns in '˜chemical incident'

A man has been rushed to hospital with burns after he came into contact with a corrosive substance yesterday 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, St Leonards, 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 underwent ‘decontamination procedures’ according to East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service.

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

Sussex Police said the building was evacuated for safety reasons and a 25 metre cordon set up.

The road was closed to traffic.

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

The Kent Air Ambulance Service was scrambled to the scene and firefighters from Hastings, Battle, Bexhill and Eastbourne, were in attendance.

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The Kent Air Ambulance lands on the beach by Marine Court. Picture by Paul Ashton. SUS-160714-175425001The Kent Air Ambulance lands on the beach by Marine Court. Picture by Paul Ashton. SUS-160714-175425001
The Kent Air Ambulance lands on the beach by Marine Court. Picture by Paul Ashton. SUS-160714-175425001

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