A chemical leak at a popular Houston-area waterpark sickened more than 60 people Saturday afternoon, including children as young as 3.
“I Thought it Was a Terrorist Attack.”
First responders were called to the Six Flags Hurricane Harbor Splashtown resort in Spring, Texas, around 2:30 p.m. on July 17th. According to witnesses, a lifeguard at the kiddie pool was one of the first to become ill. Soon dozens of parents and their children were experiencing respiratory issues, burning eyes, and skin irritation.
“I thought it was a terrorist attack. It felt like we got gassed,” one waterpark guest told Click2Houston
He and his 9-year-old daughter were among those treated at local hospitals. The little girl had begun crying and vomiting, and it was later confirmed that her oxygen levels were low.
Another father said he smelled a harsh odor and quickly realized something was wrong. He was able to capture video of the chaotic scene.
“You see the videos of the people rioting; it’s almost like that man. People running everywhere it’s chaotic,” he told Click2Houston. “I talked to some lifeguards that are here from Splashtown and they informed me that the chemicals were mixed wrong.”
Around 30 Waterpark Guests Treated at Area Hospitals
Around 30 people were hospitalized, including 21 treated at Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center and seven at Woodlands Medical Center. All 28 were eventually discharged in good condition.
The most serious case, a 3-year-old girl, is being treated at Texas Children’s Hospital, where she is currently listed in stable condition.
A woman also went into labor during a medical evaluation but is said to be doing fine.
Another 39 guests who refused treatment were decontaminated before leaving the park.
Six Flags Hurricane Harbor Splashtown Closed Pending Investigation
After evacuating the park and conducting preliminary air and water tests, investigators found the water had a chemical combination of 35% sulfuric acid and 10-13% bleach.
Both chemicals are commonly used to clean and treat swimming pools. But according to Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo, all of the park’s equipment readings during the incident and samples taken immediately afterward showed conditions within normal legal limits.
“If you can have 60-plus people get sick, and your system doesn’t catch it … then clearly something is wrong with the system,” she said.
Harris County officials have ordered Six Flags Hurricane Harbor Splashtown to remain closed until they know exactly what went wrong.
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