People stranded in heavy traffic for hours following a serious crash between a van and lorry on the M25 are being treated for heat-related illnesses during the highest June temperatures for decades.
South East Coast Ambulance Service (Secamb) said it had responded to a number of patients between junctions six and seven on the M25, near Godstone, as a section of the motorway was closed and a man was airlifted to hospital.
Crews said they were prioritising the most serious cases as the long queues were making it difficult to reach patients.
A spokesperson said the congestion had been “severe and prolonged”, with some vehicles stationary for hours during the red heat alert.
“This has resulted in a number of calls from people suffering from heat-related illnesses including a number of coach passengers,” they said.
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”