Tram gridlock after ambulance delay

8:37am Sunday 15th April 2007

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Trams and emergency services were disrupted after ambulance crews took an hour and 20 minutes to reach an elderly woman who fell onto the tracks in Croydon.

The woman in her 70s fell off the kerb onto the tram track near Surrey Street Market at about 12.40 this afternoon.

Croydon fire officers, who happened to be in the area for a community fire safety event, rushed to her aid.

But for safety reasons, no one wanted to move the woman until an ambulance arrived - which was not until 2pm.

As a result, trams were forced into gridlock along George Street as they waited for the tracks to clear.

Another fire engine - on its way to the community event - found itself trapped between the waiting trams.

And sources said that some police officers were unable to attend reports of a fight elsewhere in the town centre because they could not abandon the woman.

A spokeswoman for Tramtrack Croydon said its services were delayed by an hour and 40 minutes for passengers travelling from New Addington towards Wimbledon.

When ambulance crews reached the scene, they treated the woman for a hip injury and took her to the Mayday Hospital.

A spokesman for London Ambulance Service said: "Unfortunately there was a delay. All our other ambulances in the area were tied up treating patients. And once dispatched, the ambulance couldn't reach the scene of the fall quickly because trams were blocking the way. Obviously, we want to get to all 999 calls as quickly as we can."