Fire crews spent more than two hours ventilating the building in Newdegate Street
One man has been hospitalised and nine others assessed by medics after an 'incident' at a Nuneaton bank. West Midlands Ambulance Service (WMAS), Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service and Warwickshire Police responded to 999 calls of people feeling 'unwell' following reports of a 'funny smell' around the Santander bank in Newdegate Street earlier today (August 29).
While police cordoned off the area, fire crews started to ventilate the building as medics went to the aid of people. WMAS sent three ambulances, a paramedic officer and the trust’s Hazardous Area Response Team to the scene.
"Crews arrived to find ten patients complaining of feeling unwell," said a WMAS spokesman. "One of them, a man, was assessed and treated at the scene before being taken to George Eliot Hospital in a stable condition.
"The remaining nine patients, six women and three men, were assessed and discharged at the scene."
Nuneaton fire crews left the scene at just after 4pm, after receiving the initial call at just before 2pm. It is understood that the incident is being treated a 'minor hazard materials' incident.
CoventryLive has contacted Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service for a comment. In the meantime, a Santander spokesperson said that a 'potential safety issue' led to the closure of the branch earlier today.
"During routine works at our Nuneaton branch earlier today a potential safety issue was detected and as a precaution the branch was closed," the spokesman said. "We are sorry for any inconvenience this causes our customers.
"The local post office in Nuneaton is just 100 yards from the Santander branch where customers can do everyday banking activities including cash deposits, while the nearest Santander branch is in Coventry."
It has yet to be confirmed when the branch will re-open.
Posted: Tue Aug 29, 2023 5:46 pm