Ashburton school incident: Reports of children unwell after ‘low reading’ of chemical found, four taken to hospital

Emergency services were called to St Joseph’s School this morning after reports of people feeling unwell.

Four people have been taken to hospital after children became unwell at a South Island primary school.

All patients were in a minor condition when they were taken to Ashburton Hospital, a Hato Hone St John Ambulance spokeswoman said.

St John earlier said two patients had been taken to hospital, but after 2pm updated their position to say four had been hospitalised, all in a minor condition.

The alarm was raised at St Joseph’s School in the mid-Canterbury town of Ashburton just before 9.40am after children began feeling unwell.

Two ambulances and an operations’ manager were sent, along with multiple Fire and Emergency New Zealand crews. Police were also contacted.

A “low reading” of a chemical was discovered, Fire and Emergency Southern Communications’ shift manager Blair Walklin said.

A person who answered the phone at St Joseph’s just before 11am told the Herald the school’s principal wasn’t immediately available to speak as she was “busy with parents and the fire people”.

As well as ambulance crews, three fire engines were sent from Ashburton Volunteer Fire Brigade and a specialist hazmat person from Timaru was called in, but stood down before arriving, Fire and Emergency said.