A MAN in his 50s was treated by paramedics after inhaling noxious fumes following a chemicals mix-up at a Chudleigh hotel run by a fire charity.

Firefighters from Exeter and Topsham were called to Harcombe Hotel after an incident involving chemicals used at the heated indoor swimming pool.

The drama, treated as an accident, happened just before midday on Saturday at the venue run by the Firefighters’ Charity.

The casualty, an attendant at the location who has not been named, was initially treated by firefighters before an ambulance crew arrived to take over.

The alarm was raised by a member of staff at the hotel who said there had been ‘a chemical incident.’

A fire spokesman said paramedics were alerted by the brigade when they discovered the nature of the man’s difficulties.

‘He was suffering from chemical fume inhalation,’ revealed the spokesman, adding the nature of the chemicals was soon established.

‘Good and steady progress was made preventing any further release of the fumes,’ he said.

This involved removing a drum of chemicals to the open air, making the scene safe and venting the pump room which was the identified source of the problem.

Specialist chemical officers from the fire service’s Newton Abbot-based Environmental Protection Unit were drafted in to oversee the incident.

A spokesman said the hazard was over and dealt with just after 2pm.

Arrangements were made for the safe disposal of the offending drum.

No other casualties were reported.