Croydon trams grind to a halt as man collapses in street

By Dave Burke

dave.burke@essnmedia.co.uk

George Street in central Croydon was closed off for more than 40 minutes today (Wednesday) after a man collapsed in the street.

Police and two ambulances were called to the scene, close to the junction with Wellesley Road, and tram passengers were forced to dismount as he was tended to.

Witnesses said the patient, a 40-year-old man, suffered a fit.

A spokeswoman from the London Ambulance Service said: "We were called by the police to George Street, Croydon, shortly before 12.30pm, because a man had been taken unwell.

"We sent an ambulance crew, and a 40-year-old man was taken to hospital."

The man's condition was not believed to be serious and the road was reopened again at 1.10pm.

Transport for London, which is responsible for Croydon's trams, said: "Someone was taken ill in the street.

"We stopped our trams because the police didn't want trams carrying on while the emergency services were at work.

"People were advised to get off the trams because we didn't know how long the police were going to be."