St John wants to know why three of its paramedics fell ill while treating a man who had taken drugs at a south Auckland shopping mall.
St John described today's events as a mystery case (file). Photo: RNZ / Alexander Robertson
It said it was a mystery case that it has not encountered in recent times, while the fire service said whatever happened to the emergency workers was odd.
The man told fire crews at the scene at Westfield Manukau that he had taken morphine before he was found in a toilet.
However, St John said it was not exactly sure what the substance was.
A syringe the man had with him has been taken by the police.
Overcome by fumes
St John's Auckland operations manager Doug Gallagher said the paramedics were overcome by fumes of some kind.
"They were complaining primarily of nausea, feeling sick and wanting to vomit and dizziness... but they didn't collapse," he said.
The mall toilet at Westfield Manukau, where the man was found. Photo: RNZ
The callout at the busy mall began after a member of the public called emergency services to say a man had collapsed.
Mr Gallagher said an ambulance arrived three minutes later and the man was found taking drugs. The paramedics were then overcome by the mystery fumes.
They followed protocols by leaving the man and going outside, where they called for further help.
"We're not sure exactly what the substance was that was causing the smell... it wasn't obviously known to them."
Two more ambulances were sent - one of them was crewed by a CBR (chemical, biological and radioactive) response team.
Mr Gallagher said it was understood that staff then donned protective gear and the fire service then set up decontamination showers.
The man in the toilet was taken to Middlemore Hospital in a serious condition.
"The exact nature of the situation is still uncertain, but from an investigation point of view the incident is being handled by the Fire Service and the police.
"I would say that we're cooperating with them in particular because we're keen to know what happened as well," he said.
Treated as a bio-hazard
The Fire Service's assistant area commander, Craig Monrad, said the response was initially treated as being for an unknown substance.
But the man was in a "drug-induced stupor" and told them he had self-administered morphine.
"He was talking and conscious and speaking to fire fighters, he was obviously in a dazed state and he admitted that he had been administering some drugs."
Mr Monrad said it was also unclear from the Fire Service's perspective why the paramedics got sick.
"The firefighters bagged the product and the guy's personal belongings that were left there for the police, so they've taken that as evidence I would assume."
He said there was an empty medicine-bottle type container with no label at the scene.
Conditions improve
Middlemore Hospital said early this evening it was still treating two paramedics and the man they found, but that they were expected to be able to go home tonight.
A spokesperson for Westfield said the area around the toilet was initially cordoned off and closed to the public as a precaution, but the mall was not evacuated.
She said the mall acted in accordance with its health and safety procedures, as well as instructions from the police and the Fire Service, and that there was no threat to mall customers or staff.
