A trustee at a Christian charity where eight children were hospitalized with suspected poisoning has described the incident as “horrifying.”
A 76-year-old man was arrested following reports of children falling ill on Sunday during a summer camp at Stathern Lodge in Leicestershire, U.K. The property is owned by the Braithwaite Gospel Trust.
Jonathan Jesson, a trustee of the organization, told the Daily Mail:
"The situation is unfortunate, and it is a bit horrifying to understand that something like that could happen. But we didn’t have any control over it and have to go with what the police are doing."
The Braithwaite Gospel Trust is an exclusively Christian organization established in the early 1970s by a Christian farmer. In his will, the founder stipulated that Stathern Lodge be used to benefit young people—as hostel accommodation and a place where individuals could enjoy the countryside and receive Christian teaching. According to Jesson, the Trust had only ever received positive feedback—until this week.
All eight children have since been discharged from the hospital, but one local resident described the incident as “pretty chaotic,” with emergency responders “running around everywhere.”
"I saw a few children in tears as they walked into the hall. It’s like every parent’s worst nightmare—dropping your child off at summer camp and then being told they might have been poisoned," the resident said.
Assistant Chief Constable James Avery confirmed: "I can confirm that a 76-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of administering poison or a noxious substance. He remains in custody at this time. The investigation is now being led by the East Midlands Specialist Operations Unit Major Investigation Team. This will allow a full and thorough investigation to take place."
He added that detectives remain in the area "to establish the full circumstances of the incident, as well as to provide reassurance to the families and the local community."
"This is a complex and sensitive investigation," he said, "and we do understand the concern that it caused."
Premier has contacted the Braithwaite Gospel Trust for further comment.