Cops rushed to hospital for 'inhaling unknown chemical' after breaking down door

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Four police officers are currently receiving medical treatment after inhaling a mysterious "unknown chemical" when forcing entry into a man's flat in Sheffield.

Emergency services were called this evening at 6pm to flats on the central Park Hill estate following reports of a seriously injured man, YorkshireLive reports.

Fire crews are currently working to establish what chemical has caused the illness, and the affected officers are said to be 'recovering' after receiving medical treatment.

A man in his 30s — who police were entering the property to resuscitate — has been taken to the Northern General hospital in the north of the city, and is in a serious condition.

There was reported to be around twenty emergency vehicles attending the scene.

According to The Sheffield Star, unconfirmed witness reports described people being "pulled out" of a nearby woods, stripped down to their underwear, and "sprayed down" by firefighters.

The same witnesses have also spoken of a blue tarpaulin being placed in the middle of the street, and a police cordon being extended from its original location around the exterior of the flat.

No arrests have been made.

A spokesperson for South Yorkshire Police said: "Officers are currently attending the Park Hill flats off the B6070 Duke Street in Sheffield alongside crews from Yorkshire Ambulance Service and South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service.

"We were called to an incident this evening where a man was seriously injured and was given CPR.

"Police officers forced entry to the man’s flat and some started suffering ill effects from an unknown chemical."

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