Sixteen Suspected Illegal Immigrants Found in Scorching Lorry in East Grinstead
East Grinstead police discovered 16 suspected illegal immigrants packed into an “exceptionally hot” lorry on Saturday, June 17, 2017. The victims, believed to be Iraqi nationals, were found after desperate waves to passing motorists on the A22.
Desperate Signals Save Lives
At around 09:30am, the trapped group—13 men, two women, and a child—managed to catch the attention of passing drivers, who then flagged down the lorry.
Two men were rushed to hospital with dehydration, highlighting the dire conditions inside the vehicle. The 63-year-old lorry driver was quickly arrested on suspicion of facilitating illegal immigration.
Refuge Centre Opens Its Doors
The lorry was stopped at a bus stop near the Dorset Avenue junction. Nearby Trinity Methodist Church swiftly became a makeshift refuge centre, providing shelter for the immigrants while immigration enforcement officers arrived to take control of the situation.
Sergeant William Keating-Jones praised the quick action of motorists and local services in preventing what could have been a tragic outcome.
