Heat-related illnesses rise as crash grids M25 during red alert

More than 10 people were taken to hospital for minor and heat-related conditions after a crash on the M25 left traffic stranded for hours during a red heat-health alert. South East Coast Ambulance Service was trying to reach patients caught between junctions 5 and 6 in Surrey after an earlier road traffic collision forced lane closures and triggered severe, prolonged congestion.

Vehicles were stationary for several hours, and the ambulance service received calls from people suffering from heat-related illnesses, including a number of coach passengers. It was working with partner agencies to improve access and prioritise those most in need as the queue stretched across the Kent-Surrey border.

The incident unfolded as the UK Health Security Agency and the Met Office kept red heat-health alerts in place across the East of England, East Midlands, London, South East, South West and West Midlands, with amber alerts covering the North East, North West and Yorkshire and The Humber. The alert system gives early warning when high temperatures are likely to affect health and social care services, and the core heat alert season runs from 1 June to 30 September.

NHS England expected temperatures to rise further from 1am on Wednesday 24 June to 11pm on Thursday 25 June, and hot weather can worsen heart, lung and kidney disease and increase the risk of dehydration and overheating even in otherwise healthy people. South East Coast Ambulance Service advised motorists to avoid the M25 on the Kent-Surrey border if possible, leave space for emergency services and stay hydrated if stuck in stationary traffic.