A grave mishap unfolded at a daycare in Christchurch, New Zealand, when a dangerous substance was mistakenly used in place of detergent on a waterslide, leaving several children with severe injuries.

This alarming incident prompted an immediate response from emergency services, who rushed to the daycare located on Ferry Road. The St John ambulance service reported that among the affected individuals, one was in serious condition, while six others suffered moderate injuries.

In total, seven people were transported to the hospital, including five children and two adults. The situation highlights the critical nature of chemical safety, especially in environments where children are present.

Nikita Wagstaff, speaking to Stuff, revealed the distressing outcome of the incident by showing a blister on her daughter’s hand. She explained that it was the result of a “mix-up” involving chemicals on the waterslide, underscoring the need for meticulous oversight in handling such substances.

Nikita Wagstaff showed Stuff a blister on her daughter’s hand, from what she was told was a “mix-up” with chemicals on the waterslide.

She raced to the kindergarten after seeing details of the incident in the news and said the daycare did not tell her what chemical it was.

“My heart was pounding. I was so scared. I almost cried… that’s my son in there,” another parent said.

A Fire and Emergency spokesperson said a teacher at Kinder Care had misidentified a “corrosive product that has ended up on the slip and slide” and caused “significant” injuries.

He could not specify was the chemical was but said the staff recognised they’d made a mistake and were able to provide “a professional response”.

“They gave us the safety data sheets for the product, as well as the containers to help identify and get a quick resolution.”

St John national operations manager Chris Harrison said it assessed a total of 40 patients, including one that was serious and six that were moderately injured.

Six patients were taken to hospital and one of them was an adult teacher.

St John later said one more moderately injured adult was also taken to hospital.

He said the injuries were chemical burns with “a bit of blistering”.

They were decontaminated at the scene and then transported to Christchurch City Hospital.

Two others had minor injuries and were given advice for if they needed assistance later on and the other children were uninjured and had gone home with their parents.

Harrison confirmed the product had been poured down the slide and the children had slid down it.

He said there was a teacher at the base of it in a paddling pool.

Fourteen St John vehicles were in attendance and two children and an adult were seen being placed in ambulances.

A young girl who looked to be about three or four years old was carried out wrapped in a blanket.

Chris Lynch reported that a four-year-old girl had been transported to Christchurch Hospital with serious burns to her legs and buttocks from a chemical liquid spill.

A parent, who did not want to be named, said she hadn’t heard anything from the daycare, but her child was in good health.

Two other parents Stuff spoke to at the scene said they also weren’t notified about the incident, they came to collect their children after seeing media reports.