Five children assessed by Queensland Ambulance Service at Laurie Lawrence Swim School, Burleigh Heads after chemical exposure

A number of children have been assessed by paramedics after hopping in the pool at a popular swim school, with one rushed to hospital. Here’s why

Five children have been assessed by paramedics after hopping in the pool at a popular swim school, with one rushed to hospital.

At 8am on Wednesday, emergency services were called to Laurie Lawrence Swim School on Flagstone Drive, Burleigh Heads, after concern was raised over a suspected chemical leak.

A number of children swimming at the time began to suffer from breathing difficultires, according to Mr Lawrence.

The school has closed for the day. Picture: Facebook

Paramedics assessed five boys – aged three to four – on scene.

They were swimming in the pool with their parents and an instructor at the time.

One patient was taken to Gold Coast University Hospital in a stable condition.

Mr Lawrence said the drama happened during an early morning lesson when “a couple of little kids started having breathing problems” after a “smell” was noticed in the small teaching pool.

Laurie Lawrence at the Laurie Lawrence Swim School. Picture: Richard Walker

“One of the kids was having a real problem with his breathing and we rang the ambulance immediately,” Mr Lawrence said.

“Two of the other kids had minor breathing problems and the other two had no issues at all.”

Mr Lawrence said a female GP whose son was in the lesson but was not affected sprang into action, administering oxygen to the little boy with breathing difficulties until paramedics arrived.

He said the boy had been taken to hospital while the others were sent home to be monitored by their parents.

The Laurie Lawrence Swim School at Burleigh. Picture: Gold Coast Bulletin

The swim school had been shut down for the day “as a precaution” and students would be offered free lessons, Mr Lawrence said.

He said a water play area suspected of being the cause of the problem would also be shut down.

Mr Lawrence said power had been turned off for about 30 minutes for a solar installation and it was thought there may have been a chemical “surge” when the electricity was turned back on.

“We test the water three times a day and the chlorine readings were spot on before and after the lesson, so I’m at a bit of a loss,” he said.

“I’ve been doing this for 50 years and have never had an issue like this.”

Mr Lawrence said the problem would be thoroughly diagnosed and fixed before the pool reopened.

He said he would be checking in with the parents of the boy who was taken to hospital, later in the day.

Fire and emergency services were unable to detect where the leak came from, but ventilated the area as a precaution.