A man revealed how he felt like he was going to die just seconds after he cycled through chemical fumes.

Richard Spencer said a gas cloud he thought was mist left him struggling to breathe, burned his eyes, skin and throat.

The leaked chemical was stannic chloride – used in chemical weapons during the First World War.

The incident took place at around 11.15pm on Thursday, August 8, as Richard cycled along the canal towpath, pictured, by Bridge Street in Church.

Richard, 66, said he is now recovering at home in Rishton after spending five days in hospital.

Richard, a former engineer and gunsmith, said: “It had just started to rain and I came over the bridge, round on to the path and saw a mist which I thought was something to do with the warm weather.

“I was approaching it and felt this burning and stabbing of needles on my skin then my eyes and in my throat and up my nose and on to my lungs.

“I could hardly breathe. The pain was unbelievable.

“I thought if I don’t get out of here pretty sharp, I could die.”

He added: “It has left me with a bad cough and it has made me as weak as a kitten. I’ve lost about 10lbs in weight. I’ve read reports about it being something used in the First World War.”

The Health and Safety Executive is investigating the incident linked to chemical manufacturer William Blythe’s .

A Lancashire Fire and Rescue spokesman said they were called out after a man had complained of burning eyes and was struggling to breathe.

The spokesman added: “He said that as he was passing a building, there was a mist that he proceeded to go through. At that point, his eyes started to burn. It was established that it was a leak of stannic chloride from the nearby plant.

“The incident was a result of a quantity of fumes exiting the site.”

Graham Smith, operations director at William Blythe’s, said the incident involved a small chemical release during routine cleaning operations within one of its process plants.

He added: “At the time,  members of the site team followed standard operating procedures to minimise the effects and contain any materials on site.

“The safety, health and environmental performance at William Blythe remains the key priority for the company.

“We wish Mr Spencer a speedy recovery.”