Stowaways close to death in 100F heat
SEVENTEEN illegal immigrants were found stowed inside a steel lorry container yesterday suffering from heat exhaustion as the temperature inside soared above 100F (38C).
The stowaways, including teenage boys, were desperately banging on the sides after they landed at Dover.
The case echoes the tragedy in 2000 when 58 migrants were discovered dead at the same port.
Last night, police and paramedics said the stowaways were lucky to be alive and only their noise had alerted port staff and saved them from death.
One had to be taken to hospital by ambulance while the others were treated by paramedics.
A port worker said: “It was incredible. They were pouring out of the lorry like ants from a nest. Some of them fell to the floor, gasping for air.
“Some of them looked like young boys. It was a desperately sad sight. It was so hot in the lorry they could easily have died.”
The articulated lorry was stopped after it drove off a cross-Channel ferry.
Kent Police said the stowaways suffered from dehydration and exhaustion. The Polish lorry driver was arrested on suspicion of people trafficking and was in custody last night.
A Kent Police spokesman said yesterday: “It is thought the men are aged between 16 and 35. It is not yet clear where they are from.”