Essex Police helps rescue three men struggling to breathe in refrigerated lorry

Essex officers helped track the vehicle down the A14 and M11

Author: Arlen JamesPublished 18th Feb 2021

Essex Police have helped rescue three men who called 999 saying they were struggling to breathe in the back of a refrigerated lorry.

The force tracked the vehicle down the A14 and M11, and their Cambridgeshire colleagues found the lorry at Brampton Hut services just before 4.30pm yesterday (17 February).

All three men found inside the vehicle, which is believed to have traveled from France, were safe and not injured.

Cambridgeshire Police say their welfare is now being handled by immigration services.

Members of the public are being asked to look out for warning signs of trafficking, particularly at service stations or lay-bys, including:

  • People suddenly emerging from a lorry or HGV in a rush
  • Hearing banging from inside
  • A group of people heading towards, or going inside, the back of a lorry
  • If something doesn't seem right about the vehicle - produce being thrown from it, or something to catch people's attention

People are urged to call police on 999 immediately and take a note of the registration number if they see any of the above.

Hear all the latest news from across the UK on the hour, every hour, on Greatest Hits Radio on DAB, smartspeaker, at greatesthitsradio.co.uk, and on the Rayo app.