Invercargill’s Civic Theatre was the centre of an emergency response callout involving all emergency services this afternoon when a number of children fainted on stage.

Venues Manager Kate Feaver said that the emergency services were called as a precaution after a number of school children, rehearsing for the ILT Schools’ Singout, started fainting on stage. “The children were rehearsing under lights on elevated platforms when the fainting episodes began. We understand that as many as 12 children were affected.

“An ambulance was called to the scene and ambulance staff co-ordinated the response. Further emergency services were called as a precaution but there was nothing to indicate that there was anything dangerous in the building that caused the children to faint,” Ms Feaver said.

“The affected children were taken from the building first. Then all other children were removed as a precaution and taken by bus back to their schools. Firefighters then entered the Civic and after a thorough check the building was given the all clear,” she said. “The priority of staff and emergency services was to make sure that the children were safe and looked after.”

Ms Feaver said that in previous years during this type of event children had fainted on the stage. Because of that theatre staff did not heat the stage area when there were many children under lights.

• The ILT Schools’ Singout starts tonight (8 September) and runs until Thursday (10 September). Check this page for the details.