Man dies on the street next to a company car ‘after exposure to chemical leakage’

A man was found dead on the street after being exposed to a ‘chemical spill’, investigators believe.

Emergency services flocked to Douglas Avenue in Billinge, St Helens, yesterday morning to reports a man had collapsed in the street.

A neighbor told the Liverpool Echo that the man, who appeared to be in his 50s, was given CPR by paramedics near a company van in the leafy village near Wigan just after 10am.

The eyewitness, who does not want to be named, says: ‘Everyone is on the street. There are a lot of heavy sirens and lights going around. Almost the entire street is closed from top to bottom.’

He claimed there were also people in hazmat suits from the Hazardous Area Response Team (HART) on Douglas Avenue. HART provides support in challenging environments such as chemical incidents, hazardous substances and confined spaces.

Emergency services rushed to Douglas Avenue (pictured) in Billinge, St Helens yesterday to reports a man in his 50s had collapsed in the street

Tragically, police confirmed the man had suffered cardiac arrest and was pronounced dead at the scene. It was determined that he died after being exposed to the chemical Xylene.

Another person who was at the property was also examined by the North West Ambulance Service, but it was determined that the person had not been exposed to xylene.

Xylene has various applications, including as a cleaning agent and thinner for paint and varnish.

Short-term exposure can irritate your eyes, nose and throat and affect your brain. Long-term exposure can lead to headaches, dizziness and heart problems.

A multi-agency meeting took place and a plan was drawn up to investigate an off-site commercial vehicle for a possible ‘chemical leak’.

The van was examined and deemed safe shortly afterwards.

A spokesperson for Merseyside Police said: ‘We can confirm that emergency services attended a report this morning (Saturday 28 September) raising concerns for the safety of a man in Billinge.

‘At around 10.20am officers were called to Douglas Avenue to reports that a man in his 50s had suffered a cardiac arrest. Paramedics attended and he was sadly pronounced deceased at the scene.

‘The man’s death is not being treated as suspicious and his next of kin have been informed.’