Firefighters from across north Essex dealt with a chemical leak in which a dock worker was overcome by hazardous fumes at Harwich International Port.
Two crews from Dovercourt and one each from Colchester, Manningtree and Clacton were called to Parkeston Quay by an ambulance crew.
The worker had been overcome by the fumes after a container was being off-loaded. He was taken to hospital for a check-up and later released, returning over the weekend for further treatment. Paul Davey, a spokesman for Hutchison Ports UK which owns the site, said the container was coming off the Stena Partner from Rotterdam Europort on Friday night.
"It was seen to be leaking and was identified as a hazardous container," he said.
"The fire service was called to deal with it and during the clean-up and recovery one of the dock workers had irritating fumes affect his eyes.
"He was taken to hospital by ambulance and his eyes washed out and he returned for further checks on Saturday."
Mr Davey said the Health and Safety Executive had been informed about the incident.
A spokesman for Essex Fire Service said firefighters worked on the clean-up and also helped to identify the chemical so that the worker could be correctly treated.
The crew from Clacton arrived with a decontamination trailer and four men wore gas suits during the operation.
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Published Monday, September 12, 2005
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