Enid Hollingworth was one of four people taken to hospital after being exposed to excess chlorine
A woman said she feared for her life after being exposed to excess chlorine at a swimming pool and spa in Derbyshire.
On 7 January, Enid Hollingworth decided to go for a swim at Clifford Health Club and Spa in Regent Street, Long Eaton, when she was suddenly unable to breathe and felt her “lungs burning”.
Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service said 27 people, including Mrs Hollingworth, had been exposed and 10 were showing symptoms, but added none of them were serious.
Two other women, who also ended up in hospital, spoke to the BBC and criticised the staff on how they dealt with the incident.
Fire service group manager David Diggins told the BBC there had been “a mixture of some chemicals within the systems” of the pool, which had been overfilled.
During her swim, Mrs Hollingworth, from Chilwell in Nottinghamshire, said she could smell toxic fumes coming from the side of the pool and was “instantly coughing” and struggled to catch her breath.
‘Nobody helped me’
After shouting for help, an elderly man managed to help her out of the pool, while the lifeguard was “saying and doing nothing”, Mrs Hollingworth said.
The 71-year-old said she only received help while “coughing and choking” at reception, questioning why she had not been supported.
“When the paramedic came, I was put on oxygen for around two hours before I was taken to hospital overnight and discharged the following day,” Mrs Hollingworth said.
The venue said the pool and spa reopened about four hours later.
Mrs Hollingworth said help from staff at the spa was “totally inadequate for an emergency situation”.
“The whole thing was just a nightmare. Nobody helped me,” she said.
“I’m angry, upset and emotional about the whole thing. I thought I was going to die.”
Emergency services were called to the scene on 7 January
Two other women, who say they were in the pool at the same time as Mrs Hollingworth, wanted to give their accounts of what happened anonymously.
They say they were taken to hospital, where they remained overnight.
One of them added she suddenly found she could not breathe and knew she had to get out of the pool immediately.
“I went to the reception and told them I needed an ambulance,” she said.
Another woman says she is still coughing, days later.
She said: “I was immediately behind Enid when she started coughing. The staff didn’t help at all. It was a member of the public who shouted for the pool to be cleared.”
Both women say they are now considering legal action.
Investigation launched
Mrs Hollingworth, who says she had no breathing issues prior to last week, is now waiting to find out if she has suffered permanent lung damage.
“I’ve since been back to the GP as my breathing is still painful and he has found crackles in my lungs,” Mrs Hollingworth said.
“The respiratory doctor said there could be some long-term damage but it is a matter of waiting seven to 14 days and hopefully by then it should be gone.”
On 8 January, Erewash Borough Council confirmed it had launched an investigation into the exposure.
In a statement, Clifford Health Club and Spa said it was able to reopen with “confidence and certainty that we are safe”.
“Our health and safety managers and external pool plant consultants have retested all our systems and staff on their competency,” a spokesperson said.
“The outside relevant contractors and consultants have told us to reopen as the very rare issue that caused the incident has been resolved.”
In response to the claims made by Mrs Hollingworth and the other women, the business said it had “nothing further to add”.