A PRIMARY school pupil was today in intensive care in hospital after apparently coming into contact with a hazardous substance at a bonfire site in west Belfast.
Cameron Dickson (9) collapsed after sniffing liquid in containers which had been dumped on land at Glenwood Street, off the Shankill Road.
Cameron's parents Harry and Rhonda Dickson said he was lucky to be alive. He is being treated at the Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children.
Harry Dickson told the Belfast Telegraph: "They came across barrels of chemicals. They were playing with them as kids do, opened them and poured them out.
"Cameron, unfortunately, was the one who sniffed the liquid. He said there was no smell off it and it looked like water."
The substance had not been identified, but was thought to be a type of industrial cleaner used in gardens.
Police and the fire service sealed off the site for several hours yesterday afternoon as it was secured and the substance removed.
DUP councillor Frank McCoubrey said people in the Shankill area were "disgusted".
"There were two containers with an unknown substance. A young boy came into contact with the substance and was hospitalised," he said.
"Police are going round knocking doors and trying to find out who is responsible. People are absolutely disgusted.
"These people drive around in broad daylight. They are totally reckless - they could have taken this material to one of the Belfast City Council facilities to get it properly disposed of but decided to dump it."
Mr McCoubrey said that there is "an ongoing problem" with fly-tipping at bonfire sites both across the Shankill and elsewhere.
Last June, asbestos was found after materials including out of date meat and soiled nappies were dumped at a bonfire site at nearby Lanark Way.
"For a number of years now I have been trying to prevent this area becoming a dumping site," the councillor said.
"My thoughts are with the young boy involved and his family. I appeal to anyone with information to contact police."
PSNI Inspector Laura Kelly said last night: "We received a call from a member of the public who was concerned that their young son, who is currently receiving treatment in hospital, may have come into contact with some sort of substance at the bonfire site.
"We immediately began an investigation into this incident and are working with our Fire and Rescue Service colleagues and partner agencies to identify the source of these containers and have them safely removed."
Police have appealed for anyone with information to contact officers on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
