Published: June 22, 2009 12:57 pm      

Fumes sicken 42 at Holiday World amusement park

SANTA CLAUS — A filter pump malfunction in a water ride at southern Indiana's Holiday World caused fumes that sent 42 people to a hospital with breathing troubles.

Park president Will Koch (COOK) says the pump sent highly concentrated levels of bleach and muriatic acid into the Bahari River waters at Splashin' Safari on Saturday.

Koch says lifeguards immediately got everyone out of the water ride and closed off the area. A park spokeswoman says staffers gave oxygen to those who needed it.

Jasper Memorial Hospital spokeswoman Rita Howell says 24 people were taken to the hospital by ambulance and 18 arrived on their own. Two people were kept overnight for observation and have since been released.

Koch says repairs have been made and the ride has reopened.