The pool at the Bob L. Burger Recreation Center in Lafayette remains closed Monday morning, as the city and county works to figure out what caused a chemical leak that sent 22 people to the emergency room Saturday.
People who were evacuated at the time of the leak were allowed back inside the building on Sunday to collect any belongings left behind. Fitness areas inside of the building opened at 5 a.m. Monday.
A dad who was inside the center’s lazy river with his son described the experience with Denver7.
Chemical incident sends 22 to hospital, mostly children
Testing unable to find cause for chemical incident that sickened kids
He asked to remain anonymous, but says his son, who underwater, came up and immediately started coughing.
He then felt what he describes as a “wall” of burning in his eyes and throat. He immediately pulled his son and other children he noticed were also coughing out of the water and lead them outside as he told staff at the center about the situation.
He says he also called 911. He and his son were taken to the ER and later released.
On Sunday, he tried contacting city administrators, including the mayor, but says he never got a response.
“I’m frustrated,” he said.
On Sunday, Debbie Wilmot, a spokesperson for the city, couldn’t offer any updates on others who were taken to hospitals.
A crew from Boulder County Health Dept. will test the pool water Monday. A crew from the facility tested the air quality on Saturday, but didn’t show signs of any abnormal chemical or gas levels.
Another test performed by the Lafayette Fire Dept. yielded similar results.
