Croydon tram derailment: Sadiq Khan warns fatalities 'may well increase' after tram crash horror

Jamie Bullen9 November 2016

Sadiq Khan said the death toll in the Croydon tram derailment “may well increase” after he visited the crash scene in south London.

The London Mayor, who visited the scene on Wednesday, said the number of fatalities “may well increase” shortly before 4pm.

The tram driver has been arrested.

A British Transport Police spokesman said: “We can confirm an arrest has been made in connection with the Croydon incident."

Concerned: Sadiq Khan visits the scene of a tram crash in Croydon
PA

Mr Khan earlier posted on Facebook: “This morning at 6:13am emergency services were called to a tram derailment near the Sandilands tram stop in Croydon.

“A number of people have been taken to hospital with injuries sustained in the incident and sadly there has been some loss of life.

“My thoughts and prayers are with the friends and family of those who have lost their lives today and everyone involved in this tragic incident.

Emeregncy response: Police vehicles at the scene in Croydon 
PA

“I am in contact with the emergency services and TfL, who are working extremely hard under very difficult circumstances to get the situation under control and treat those who have been injured.”

More than 70 firefighters were sent to the scene by London Fire Brigade and have worked at the scene throughout the day to free trapped passengers.

The injured were taken to two hospitals in Croydon and Tooting.

Dr Nnenna Osuji, medical director of Croydon Health Services NHS Trust, said there has been a "full spectrum" of injuries, from minor to major.

Fatalities: Five people have been confirmed dead
PA / Sky News

Speaking outside Croydon University Hospital, she said 31 people were brought in an ambulance and seven more came on foot.

She said: “When you're sitting speaking with relatives there's a sombreness as well as the reality of another serious incident in Croydon and the fact that, for a number of families, lives will be very different as of today.”

Dr Osuji added there are no children among the patients at Croydon University Hospital.

Dr Phil Moss, the clinical director of the emergency department at St George's Hospital in Tooting, south east London, said three people were undergoing surgery at the hospital.

Scene: It happened near Sandilands station 
James Long

He would not give any detail about the ages or injuries of any of the 20 patients who they treated from the tram incident.

Dr Moss said: "This was a very serious incident and the injuries sustained were very serious. We know there have been some fatalities at the scene today.

"The patients who have gone to the operating theatre will certainly be kept overnight if not for several days or even weeks."

Emergency medical teams at the hospital dealt with four "majorly injured" patients and 16 walking wounded, he said.

Dr Moss said: "Three of those patients are now in the operating theatre and one of the patients who was thought to be seriously injured patients has now fortunately been discharged. The remaining 16 patients are in the process of being discharged.

"We plan for events such as this evening though they are very rare - maybe once in every two years.

"This is clearly a traumatic event. We have psychologists working with us in the emergency department who will speak to patients prior to discharge. We also look to patients to follow up with their GPs."

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