Ten people rushed to hospital due to the heat after being stuck on motorway for 8hrs due to major crash
Drivers suffer heat-related illness after waiting for hours in congestion after crash between a van and a lorry
At least ten people were hospitalised due to the heat while sitting in a queue on the M25 caused by a major crash.
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Drivers were left stranded in long tailbacks yesterday after a crash between a van and a lorry.
Drivers faced “severe and prolonged” congestion as temperatures soared towards 40C.
Ambulances were scrambled to junctions six and seven of the motorway in Oxted, Surrey.
South East Coast Ambulance Service (Secamb) said: “This has resulted in a number of calls from people suffering from heat-related illnesses including a number of coach passengers.”
Passengers were begging on social media for an emergency services response.
Folkestone and Hythe MP Tony Vaughan said: “Please sort this out urgently. People need water and some may need evacuation.
“You have protocols for this situation – please implement them – this is an emergency!”
He said one driver had been stuck on the M25 near Oxted for at least eight hours.
“It is 40 degrees in her car. She has kids with her. She is running out of water.”
One woman posted on Facebook: “My parents have been stuck on the M25 for over 4.5 hours, no information, no supplies.
“There are elderly people, babies, animals, people with health conditions out there on the tarmac in the middle of a red heat warning on the hottest June day for 50 years!
“Can the police not coordinate some water and assistance? The exits are taking hours!”
Another woman replied: “My daughter and I were stuck in this from 10.15am, We also had a minor bump from a poor lady who collapsed at the wheel of her car due to heat stroke.”
A record-breaking provisional temperature of 36.1C was recorded in Gosport, Hampshire yesterday.
The country’s all-time high is 40.3C, recorded in July 2022.
A rare red weather warning for heat remains in place today.