Outwood Academy: At least 40 pupils struck by mystery illness at Ripon school

Police said emergency services were working to find out what caused them to collapse

At least 40 pupils have been struck by a mystery illness at a school in Yorkshire.

Police and ambulances were called to the Outwood Academy Ripon as children started collapsing shortly after 11am today.

A spokesperson for North Yorkshire Police said: “A number of students had collapsed at the school and have been taken to hospital.

"At this time, the safety of all the students and staff at the school is paramount and officers are working with the fire and ambulance services to establish what has caused the students to collapse.“

The Yorkshire Ambulance Service had been called at 11.30am to reports of pupils “falling ill suddenly with nausea and feeling faint”.

“We dispatched a number of resources to the scene including a doctor, three ambulance crews, two rapid response vehicles, a number of Clinical Supervisors and our Hazardous Area Response Team,” a spokesperson said.

“Up to 40 students are currently being treated on scene, but we have not conveyed any patients to hospital at this stage.”

Emergency services outside Outwood Academy School in Ripon, North Yorkshire (PA)

Police said there were aware of at least two pupils who had attended hospital or local medical facilities independently.

The North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service said it had sent crews from Ripon and Boroughbridge, alongside hazardous materials specialists and detection teams.

“We are working with colleagues from North Yorkshire Police and Yorkshire Ambulance Service at this time to determine what has caused this occurrence,” a spokesperson said.

The Outwood Academy Ripon declined to comment when contacted by The Independent.

The school has 635 pupils aged between 11 and 18 and is part of a group of 15 primary and secondary academies across Yorkshire, Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire.