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| 'Major incident' declared after two collapse in Wiltshire | 'Major incident' declared after two collapse in Wiltshire |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| A man and woman feared to have been exposed to an unknown substance are in a critical condition, prompting police to declare a major incident. | A man and woman feared to have been exposed to an unknown substance are in a critical condition, prompting police to declare a major incident. |
| The pair, both in their 40s, were found unconscious in Amesbury, Wiltshire, on Saturday. | The pair, both in their 40s, were found unconscious in Amesbury, Wiltshire, on Saturday. |
| Officers initially thought the collapse was drugs-related but have since said they are "open-minded" as to the cause. | Officers initially thought the collapse was drugs-related but have since said they are "open-minded" as to the cause. |
| Wiltshire Police said further tests on the substance were being carried out in a bid to identify it. | Wiltshire Police said further tests on the substance were being carried out in a bid to identify it. |
| Amesbury is about ten miles from Salisbury, where former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and daughter Yulia were poisoned by a suspected military nerve agent in March. | |
| While it was not clear if a crime had been committed, the force said, a number of scenes in Amesbury and Salisbury known to have been frequented by the couple had been cordoned off. | While it was not clear if a crime had been committed, the force said, a number of scenes in Amesbury and Salisbury known to have been frequented by the couple had been cordoned off. |
| "It was initially believed that the two patients fell ill after using possibly heroin or crack cocaine from a contaminated batch of drugs," the force said. | "It was initially believed that the two patients fell ill after using possibly heroin or crack cocaine from a contaminated batch of drugs," the force said. |
| "They are both currently receiving treatment for suspected exposure to an unknown substance at Salisbury District Hospital," it added. | "They are both currently receiving treatment for suspected exposure to an unknown substance at Salisbury District Hospital," it added. |
| Public Health England (PHE) said it did not believe there was a "significant health risk" to the wider public, although its advice was being continually assessed. | Public Health England (PHE) said it did not believe there was a "significant health risk" to the wider public, although its advice was being continually assessed. |
| Officials said the hospital was "open as usual" and advised patients to attend routine appointments unless contacted and advised to do otherwise. | Officials said the hospital was "open as usual" and advised patients to attend routine appointments unless contacted and advised to do otherwise. |