'I just kept wondering why I was burning': Houston water park guests experience burning, irritation after chemical leak

Guests' time swimming in a Houston water park turned from pleasure to panic when a pool cleaning chemical leaked in the water during the July 17 weekend, hospitalizing a dozen people with burns and breathing problems.

Officials have closed the water park, pending an investigation with the local city and industry experts.

“You’ll never forget this trip to Six Flags for sure," visitor Bobby West told KHOU. “They just funneled people out the front. Just a lot of people going in one direction, really slow, miserable, but we got out. They were wheeling people out in stretchers, looked like quite a few people.”

A Hurricane Harbor Splashtown lifeguard felt the effects of the headache-causing chemical exposure. Then water park visitors began to feel similar symptoms.

“Grateful for the swift action from first responders at Splashtown,” Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo wrote on Twitter. “In all, 60-plus people suffered respiratory issues, and around 30 were transferred to the hospital. We’ve issued a closure order to investigate and ensure the park meets all requirements before reopening again.”

Authorities reported the fumes came from a solution of hypochlorite and 35% sulfuric acid. Hypochlorite is a compound used to clean pool water. 

"Basically [hypochlorite is] like bleach you use at home, except it’s a lot more concentrated," Glacier Pool Supplies & Spas Owner Keith Nathan said in KHOU. "When those things get mixed in concentrated form, you get heat, and you get the release of chlorine gas which will definitely affect your breathing and irritates you."

Those unfortunate to be swimming in the children’s pool area once these chemicals mixed felt their skin irritated and couldn’t breathe.

“I just felt, like, burning everywhere on my hands and my legs,” a guest told KHOU. “And even washing, they had us rinse, and I said, ‘Well, why do I still keep burning?' I don’t know if it was coming out of my hair.”

Hidalgo recommends those who recently attended the water park to monitor their health and seek medical care if they feel ill.