A mum from Devon says hazmat firefighters were called to her home after she became dizzy and unwell following the delivery of a Shein parcel. Courtney Davies, 28, had ordered bookmarks, magnets, and stickers for her online business, but when she opened the package on July 28, she was met with a strong chemical odour that left her lightheaded, and she noticed her new items were covered in a white liquid. Some of the substance spilled on her hoodie and jeans, which changed colour almost instantly.
Emergency Response and Evacuation
Courtney quickly took the parcel outside and called 999, prompting a hazmat team and ambulance to arrive at her home, which had to be evacuated. The mum-of-two said the team deemed the liquid a hazardous material and disposed of it, but they could not determine what it was. She and her partner were monitored for an hour in an ambulance, with paramedics testing their blood, heart rates, and checking for burns. The couple both reported headaches for the next two days that even painkillers could not shift.
Courtney's Account
Describing the incident, Courtney said: "I ordered bookmarks, scrunchies, stickers and a few magnets [from Shein]. As I opened it up there was this really strong chemical [smell] all over the parcel. It got on my clothes and they immediately started changing colour. It was similar to bleach but so powerful it almost felt like it was burning your nose hairs. My partner said 'we need to take this outside, it's starting to make me really light headed'." She added that her eyes were watering and her nose was running, and the emergency services could still smell the substance when they arrived. The liquid had a white consistency and coated everything inside the parcel.
Aftermath and Impact
The stench was so bad that doors and windows had to be open for two hours. Courtney, who suffers from anxiety, said the incident triggered a panic attack. She was told not to touch anyone, eat, or drink, and had to stand and wait. She expressed concern that such an incident could seriously affect someone with a lung condition or asthma. She also noted that the incident affected her income and damaged her belongings, leaving her unable to work the next day due to a severe headache.
Courtney said Shein requested substantial proof, and she sent the hazmat team report, but claims she was ignored before her case was closed. However, Shein have since offered a full refund and are investigating the matter. Courtney has vowed never to shop from Shein again. Devon & Somerset Fire & Rescue Service confirmed the incident details.
Shein's Response
A Shein spokesperson said: "We take any report of this nature seriously and we are conducting an investigation in line with our safety protocols. Our initial review has not identified any obvious issues with the package or its contents during the warehouse packing process. Incidents of this nature are highly unusual and, along with our logistics partners, we are working to establish what occurred. We have contacted the customer directly and issued a full refund for her order as a gesture of goodwill."
