Male migrant suffered ‘life-limiting’ stroke after being held in van – The Irish News

A Vietnamese man who was taken to hospital after being rescued from a hidden compartment in a van trying to reach the UK has suffered a “life-limiting” stroke that is believed to be a direct result of the circumstances, a Home Office official has said.

Six men and one woman from Vietnam were rescued from a hidden spot “the width of a human chest” after they were heard screaming for help as they were dehydrated and lacking oxygen.

Anas Al Mustafa, 43, was convicted of assisting illegal migration by smuggling the seven people in a specially adapted van via a ferry between Dieppe, in France, and Newhaven, East Sussex, on February 16.

The discovery at the port prompted a major emergency response, with ambulances, police and Border Force on the scene and all migrants taken to hospital for treatment.

After the jury reached a unanimous verdict in Lewes District Court on Thursday, prosecutor Nick Corsellis KC said that while the younger migrants had recovered from dehydration and the heat, one man may have suffered a heart attack, one woman suffered acute kidney injury and another man was taken to hospital in a coma and suffered a stroke.

Chris Foster, the Home Office’s regional head of criminal investigation for London and the South, said after the verdict: “I honestly don’t understand how anyone didn’t die.

“They have been very lucky overall, but that has nothing to do with Mr Al Mustafa. He is the man responsible and that sends a very strong signal.”

He added that six of the patients made a full recovery, but the man who had suffered a stroke suffered “life-limiting” consequences.

Mr Foster said: “Sadly one of the men has suffered almost permanent effects.

“He suffered a stroke which we believe was a direct result of being trapped in that van and even now he has difficulty walking and has memory loss, so it is life-limiting for him.”

He said six migrants have applied for asylum in the UK and that further investigations are ongoing into the involvement of others in the case.

“We will work day and night to tackle the criminal gangs that are destroying our immigration laws and undermining our borders.

“In this country we provide a safe haven for those who come here and are fleeing persecution, and there are regulated routes for them to do that.

“But what we will not tolerate is criminal gangs exploiting these people, luring them into the country, selling them the dream that everything will be fine, and nearly losing their lives because of it.”

He added that the immigration department has arrested nearly 500 people involved in human trafficking so far this year.

Dame Angela Eagle, Minister for Border Security and Asylum, added: “This horrific incident could easily have ended in tragedy, and everyone who was in this criminal’s van should feel incredibly lucky to be alive.

“We are sending a clear signal that we will not tolerate this kind of life-threatening activity.

“Our new Border Security Command will work with partners across Europe to destroy the business models of criminal smuggling gangs and stop their activities long before they reach the UK.”