68 People Locked In Container At UK Port

Two pregnant women are among those taken to hospital after dozens of people are found in a container at a port in Essex.                                       Seven people have been taken to hospital after dozens of suspected illegal immigrants were found crammed in a container at a port.                                           The East of England Ambulance Service were called around 10pm about people locked in the container at Harwich International Port in Essex.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                      A total of 68 men and women were assessed at the scene, with seven taken to Colchester General Hospital.

Two of those in hospital are pregnant women.

"The patients who were taken to hospital were suffering from abdominal and chest pains and were feeling faint," a spokesman said.

"None are in a life-threatening or serious condition.

"The remaining 61 were released to the UK Border Agency officials."

The container is believed to have come from Holland. Those locked in it were from various countries.

Matt Broad from East of England Ambulance Service told Sky News paramedics were on the scene within six minutes of getting a call from UK Border Agency staff. 

Two hazardous area response teams, up to six officers and senior ambulance service staff were sent to the incident, he said.

Mr Broad told Sky: "The early indication came back that there was a significant number of people that had been discovered in trailer containers.

"With the numbers being over 60, we launched our full major incident plan and sent resources including our hazardous areas response team so we could ensure that all those people were thoroughly medically checked."

Of those taken to hospital, Mr Broad said several had fainted, while others were suffering with abdominal and chest pains.

He added: "We do know from experience now that patients that have been in containers or lorries for some period of time can be dehydrated, and suffer other medical effects.

"Fortunately, on this occasion it wasn't the case."