Emergency calls as traffic stranded on M25 in heat

More than 10 people have been taken to hospital for "minor and heat-related conditions" as huge queues of traffic were stranded on the M25 for hours during the red heat alert, following a serious crash between a van and lorry.

South East Coast Ambulance Service (Secamb) said it had responded to calls between junctions six and seven on the M25, near Godstone, after a section of the motorway was closed and a man was airlifted to hospital.

As Secamb described the congestion as "severe and prolonged", people took to social media to ask emergency services for help.

Surrey Police has been approached for comment.

The ambulance service said there had been a number of calls from people suffering from heat-related illnesses including a number of coach passengers.

It confirmed its crews had left the scene after assessing and treating patients, taking 10 to hospital.

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A number of people took to social media to ask for help from the emergency services, including Folkestone and Hythe MP Tony Vaughan.

In a post, Vaughan addressed police and highways teams as he 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 constituent had been stuck on the M25 near Oxted for eight hours, adding: "It is 40 degrees in her car. She has kids with her. She is running out of water.

"The person from the car in front has been airlifted to hospital with dehydration. Police seem to be saying it's not their job to give out 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!"

Susan Taylor replied to Secamb's Facebook update: "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".

Thanking emergency crews "struggling through the traffic", she added: "Also a huge thank you to the other drivers who helped and to the drivers that passed handing us water and even ice appeared"

Another posted: "You would think they would have to give water out in this heat! Just had another 3 ambulances go past them so thinking maybe people are getting ill in the heat now. It's awful".

Another said: "...ambulances have been trying to get through but no hard shoulder! People lying on the ground unwell. No info or support!"

Kathy Matthews said she had been stuck for five hours and had to turn her air conditioning off to save petrol, adding she "felt very wobbly".

Surrey Police said the earlier crash had involved a white Mercedes Vito van, driven by the male patient who was in his 30s, and a white lorry.

The force said it was appealing for witnesses and motorists could expect lengthy delays in the area due to a closure at junction five.

A police spokesperson said: "One of the vehicles is currently being recovered, and a significant oil spillage from the collision has caused damage to the road surface.

"National Highways engineers are carrying out assessments before the carriageway can safely reopen."

Earlier Secamb said it was called to the scene at about 10:00 BST. The male patient had suffered a leg injury and would receive further treatment in hospital, it added.

Both lanes of the exit slip road at junction six are now open while the main carriageway remains closed, the force added.

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