Man found dead in street after being exposed to cleaning chemical

A man was found dead in the street after being exposed to chemical used for thinning paint.

Police cars, fire engines and an air ambulance arrived on Douglas Avenue in Billinge, near Wigan, this morning (Saturday). A person living nearby told the Liverpool Echo that a man was receiving CPR next to a works van on the street before being airlifted to hospital.

He said people in hazmat suits from The Hazardous Area Response Team were also on the street. HART provides support in challenging environments such as chemical incidents, hazardous materials and confined spaces.

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The man, who did not wish to be named, said: "At about 10.15 am, we were coming down there from the East Lancs Road. They were giving CPR to a man. There were about four or five of their (HART) vans. They sit their kit out on the road. There were about four or five detectives too.

"Everyone is out on the street. There's lots of heavy sirens and lights going around. Pretty much the whole street is closed from top to bottom.

"The air ambulance got here just before 9.45am I think and took off at 11.41am. Once the air ambulance had lifted, it did dial back but it's an ongoing incident."

A spokesperson for Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service said firefighters helped paramedics from the North West Ambulance Service (NWAS) at the scene, involving one casualty affected by exposure to Xylene at a semi-detached brick built property. Xylene has various uses, including as a cleaning agent and a thinner for paint and varnishes.

Short-term exposure can irritate your eyes, noses and throats and affect your brain. Long-term exposure can lead to headaches, dizziness and heart problems.

The man, in his 50s, was pronounced dead at the scene. Another individual that was at the property was also examined by NWAS. It was found that the person had not been exposed.

A multi-agency meeting took place and a plan was created to examine a works van outside the premises for possible chemical spill. The van was examined and deemed safe shortly after. Crews made up their equipment, before completing an external handover with Merseyside Police, then left the scene at 12.45.

A spokesperson for Merseyside Police said: "We can confirm that emergency services attended a report of concern for the safety of a man in Billinge this morning (Saturday 28 September)."

"At around 10.20am, officers were called to Douglas Avenue to reports that a man in his 50s had suffered a cardiac arrest. Paramedics attended and he was sadly pronounced deceased at the scene. The man's death is not being treated as suspicious and his next of kin have been informed."