Drama at Heathrow as six ambulances surround passenger jet on the tarmac after SIXTY children from Welsh choir taken ill on flight from Dubai as they return from Mandela memorial concert in Cape Town

• 11 children taken to hospital after falling ill on the overnight flight to London
• London Ambulance Service confirm 60 children treated at the scene
• Children suffered from vomiting and diarrhoea on board the Airbus aircraft
• Four ambulances, one emergency bike responder and hazardous area response team attended the scene
• Choir was returning from a concert in South Africa celebrating 20 years of democracy
• Children boarded Airbus A380 in Dubai for the return leg to London
• Food poisoning blamed as possible cause for the illness
• One parent said the children 'went down like nine pins' during the flight

By Darren Boyle

Sixty members of a Welsh children's choir were treated by paramedics today after falling ill on a flight from Dubai to London.

The children, aged between 10 and 14, were returning from a performance in Cape Town, South Africa with renowned opera singer Bryn Terfel when they began vomiting on the aircraft.

Eleven of the children were taken to Hillingdon Hospital in West London for treatment where they were later discharged.

The Emirates EK008 flight was met on the ground by eight ambulances to treat the children who fell ill during the flight from South Africa

The children complained of feeling ill on the flight from Cape Town this morning

The children aged between 10 and 14 started vomiting and suffering from diarrhoea during the flight

The Wales Millennium Centre / Only Kids Aloud Chorus performed with internationally renowned tenor Bryn Terfel in Cape Town, South Africa on Friday and Saturday, pictured

The children from the Wales Millennium Centre / Only Kids Aloud Chorus traveled to South Africa for two special concerts with renowned opera singer Bryn Terfel.
The 65 children performed in two sell-out performances at the Cape Town Opera on Friday and Saturday night in front of 2,600 people.
The group flew from Cape Town to Dubai where they boarded an Airbus A380 Emirates Airlines flight to Heathrow when some of the children started feeling ill on the flight.

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The children were hit with suspected food poisoning as the aircraft cruised from Dubai to London.

The group of 65 children are on their way home to Wales aboard three coaches

Bet Davies, spokesperson for the choir said: 'They were on a massive high after Saturday night, but on the flight home some of them fell sick and were running to the toilet.
'Some of the children felt ill on the flight so we took them to hospital as a precaution. The parents have been kept fully informed and everyone has been discharged.
'We had an absolutely fabulous trip and it was the first time the children performed with a professional orchestra. That they were performing with an internationally renowned star. We have 65 children from all over Wales and they all really enjoyed themselves.
'We flew out on Tuesday and had rehearsals before the concerts. It was all very frantic although we managed to see Robben Island which was very good.
'We went to South Africa to celebrate twenty years of democracy and the abolition of apartheid.
'For some of the children it was their first ever time on a plane.'

She added: 'The ambulance came to check the children over as a precaution to make sure they weren't bringing an infection into the country.'

The Only Kids Aloud choir in a rehearsal with internationally renowned opera singer Bryn Terfel

The choir, pictured, is made up of children from all over Wales but they are based in the Millennium Centre in Cardiff

The children performed at two sold-out performances at Cape Town Opera House on Friday and Saturday night

One parent said: 'It was a hell of a journey for the kids and the other passengers.
'Apparently they went down like ninepins one after another on the flight home. The crew were marvellous but there is not much you can do to stop children in those circumstances.
'We think it may have been something they ate before setting off from Cape Town but we will never know for sure.'

It is believed that 60 of the 65 members of the Only Kids Aloud choir, pictured, were struck down with some form of food poisoning as they flew on the final leg of their journey from South Africa

A spokesperson for the London Ambulance Service said: 'At 7.41am we received reports of children unwell on a flight into Heathrow Airport.
'Four ambulance crews, one emergency bike responder and the hazardous area response team were sent to the aircraft.
'A total of sixty children aged between 10 and 14 were treated at the scene with 11 sent to Hillingdon Hospital. The children were complaining of diarrhoea and vomiting.'
The London Ambulance Service spent almost two hours at the scene treating the children. 

The children were performing with world-renowned tenor Bryn Terfel, pictured during two sell-out concerts in Cape Town, South Africa

Welsh opera singer Bryn Terfel tweeted a picture of himself performing with the choir in Cape Town

An eyewitness on Twitter said some of the children were 'seriously ill'

The Wales Millennium Centre, where the children's choir is based was founded with the help of a donation of £10 million from South African businessman Sir Donald Gordon who wanted to improve cultural links between Cardiff and his native country.

Only Kids Aloud was founded by Only Men Aloud's music director Tim Rhys-Evans, and includes children from across Wales.
They are based at Cardiff's Wales Millennium Centre, which has had a 10-year partnership with Cape Town Opera.

Map of the children's epic journey from South Africa to London

A spokesperson for Emirates Airlines confirmed they are assisting authorities with the investigation into the illness (file picture)

The Airbus A380 is the world's largest passenger aircraft and can carry up to 517 passengers on a maximum 8,000 nautical mile journey with a maximum cruising altitude of 41,100ft.
The aircraft is the world's first double-deck passenger aircraft with seating on both decks running the entire length of the jet.
The jet has 17 toilets aboard with seven dedicated to first-class passengers on the upper deck.
A spokesperson for Emirates Airlines said: 'A small group of passengers who transited via Dubai and flew on Emirates to London Heathrow on May 5 informed our crew that they were unwell during the flight.
'They were given medical attention on arrival. The affected passengers were part of the same travel group who began their journey in Cape Town. We are providing the affected passengers with all possible support, and are working closely with the local authorities to investigate the issue.'
A spokesperson for Hillingdon Hospital said: 'The children's condition rapidly improved upon arrival to the hospital and they have all been discharged.
'A public health team are looking into the cause of the illness.' 
During the performance, the choir and Mr Terfel performed a specially commissioned work composed by Paul Mealor.
The composer wrote a tribute to Nelson Mandela called Spirit of Hope. The work features words from Mandela's favourite poem Invictus by William Ernest Henley.