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Lorry driver arrested after 13 men found in back of vehicle near Rugby with some needing medical attention

Vehicle is reported to have come from Romania

Benjamin Kentish
Thursday 24 August 2017 12:21 EDT
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Police arrested the 26-year-old lorry driver at the scene
Police arrested the 26-year-old lorry driver at the scene (Getty)

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A 26-year-old man has been arrested near Rugby, Warwickshire, after 13 men and boys were discovered in the back of a lorry.

Warwickshire Police said the driver of the vehicle was detained at Mangrove Service Station on the A45 between Rugby and Coventry on suspicion of people trafficking.

Some of the men discovered in the lorry required medical attention and three were taken to hospital, reportedly suffering from heat exhaustion. None are thought to be in a life-threatening condition and the remaining ten have been taken into custody.

Police, paramedics and an air ambulance rushed to the scene when the men were discovered. Officers have informed the UK Border Agency and are appealing for the public to contact them with any information about the men, who are reported to be between the ages of 15 and 39.

The lorry was described as being from "overseas", reportedly coming from Romania.

The A45 was closed westbound between the M45 and the A4071 while officers dealt with the incident.

A Warwickshire Police spokesperson said: “At 2pm today officers were called to Mangrove Service Station on the A45 London Road in Rugby where they found 13 men in the back of an overseas lorry.

“A number of the men required medical attention. Four of them were taken to hospital, their condition is not thought to be life threatening ."

Police initially said 14 men had been found but later revised this to 13.

A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokesperson said: "Crews arrived to discover 13 patients who had been travelling on the back of a lorry.

"All of the patients were male, with three of them receiving treatment at the scene... before they were transferred to University Hospital Coventry and Warwickshire on land ambulances."

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