SOUTHEND Hospital was evacuated after a live hand grenade was found in the heart and chest clinic this afternoon.

Police and the bomb sqaud were called to the scene and a cordon was set up around the building at 3.45pm.

A spokesperson at Southend University Hospital said: “A suspect package was located in the hospital’s heart and chest clinic this afternoon. We have evacuated the building as a precaution and a 100m cordon is in place. We continue to assist the police with their investigation at this time.

"The immediate incident at Southend University Hospital has now been resolved but the hospital remains on a major internal incident. 

"Patients and staff who were evacuated as a precaution are now being moved back into clinical areas and work is resuming as normal.

"There will be a debrief of the incident tomorrow and the hospital will release a statement after that."

Prittlewell Chase was closed in both directions.

A police spokeswoman said: "Police are at Southend Hospital following reports that an item that looked like a hand grenade had been found in the building.

"It was located by a member of staff at 3.45pm today on the first floor of the tower block."

Part of tower block was evacuated while bomb disposal experts examined the device.

Hayley Lee, 24, from Southend, was visiting a relative at the hospital. She said: "Just been evacuated from Southend hospital. Bomb alert on second floor of tower block. Lots of police, asked to move to A&E."

One patient said: “I’m in the fourth floor tower block. Police came up, told visitors to leave, locked doors. We’re on lockdown. Police said they were waiting for bomb squad. Police announced to the staff in the other room ‘old style hand grenade and hopefully it won’t go off’.

"We were all standing and listening. They said they were waiting for bomb squad."

Basildon Hospital responded to the incident. The hospital said: "Our A&E is likely to be very busy for the foreseeable future. Please only attend if urgent."

Firefighters  set up a 200m exclusion zone. Crews from Southend and Leigh attended the scene.

The hand grenade was taken away by experts for testing.

Shortly before 7pm, police began to let patients and staff back into the building.

An Essex Police spokesman said: "Army bomb disposal experts attended and the item has been taken away for testing.

"Enquiries into how the item came to be in the building are continuing. Cordons that were in place around the building have been lifted and people have returned to the hospital."

People evacuated from the building praised the hospital for its response.

 

Four police cars, dogs, fire engines and the bomb squad were seen outside the hospital. Visitors and patients were not allowed in the car park. 

The Bishop of Chelmsford Stephen Cottrell urged people to pray for all involved.

 

Echo: Ambulances queuing outside Southend Hospital


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