Man critical after toxic gas blast at chemical site

FOUR people were hurt, one seriously, when a cloud of toxic gas escaped from a chemical plant near Grimsby.

The workers suffered burns and toxic inhalation injuries when two tonnes of titanium tetrachloride were released at the Cristal Global site in Stallingborough, North East Lincolnshire, at 12.10am yesterday.

They were taken to Diana, Princess of Wales Hospital in Grimsby, although one was later transferred to the specialist burns unit at Pinderfields Hospital, in Wakefield., where last night he was “critical but stable”.

Two of the men were allowed home, while a third was kept in for observation.

The fumes – described as “extremely dangerous” by firefighters – led to shipping being suspended as the cloud headed out into the River Humber. A no-fly zone was also established.

One ship, the Baltic Bright, passed through the cloud in the Humber estuary and was diverted to Immingham. Its 12 crew were assessed by medical staff on board and were found not to have been harmed.

Residents on both banks of the Humber were urged to keep windows and doors shut.

One woman who lives nearby said: “I sleep with my windows wide open so I would have been dead if the cloud had come this way.”

But the authorities sought to calm public concerns as the emergency response was scaled down yesterday afternoon.

The director of the North Yorkshire and the Humber Health Protection Unit, Dr Autilia Newton, said the wind had blown towards the Humber, away from people. However, if did think that they have been exposed to the gas they should contact 0845 4647 for advice.

Up to 100 staff are believed to have been at the plant at the time and the company said the site would remain closed until it was satisfied it was safe to restart operations.