Man dies after exposure to chemical in Merseyside

A man has died after being exposed to a chemical substance in Merseyside, police have said.

Police and paramedics were called to a semi-detached home in the village of Billinge at around 10.20am on Saturday, Merseyside Police said.

They found a man in his 50s who had suffered a cardiac arrest after being exposed to xylene, which occurs naturally in petroleum products and crude oil, including industrial solvents.

Paramedics tried to save him but he was declared dead at the scene.

A van outside the property was examined for a possible chemical spill but was later deemed safe.

The man's death is not being treated as suspicious and his next of kin has been informed, the force added.

Xylene can enter the body by being inhaled, ingested or via skin contact - and large amounts can be fatal, cause breathing problems, liver and kidney damage, heart failure, and loss of consciousness.

(c) Sky News 2024: Man dies after exposure to chemical in Merseyside