The London Ambulance Service experienced its busiest day in history on Friday, responding to a surge in calls amid a record-breaking June heatwave. The service received 8,869 emergency calls and attended to 688 life-threatening incidents, which included cases of cardiac arrest and respiratory failure.
Demand peaked between 6 p.m. and midnight, with the service answering over 500 calls per hour during that period. This surge exceeded the demand seen during previous heatwaves in May and at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. On Wednesday, the service responded to 642 Category 1 calls as temperatures reached 36.1C (97F) in Charlwood, Surrey.
Friday marked the hottest June day on record, with temperatures in Suffolk reaching 37.3C (99.1F), surpassing the previous June record of 35.6C (96.1F) set in 1976 by over a full degree Celsius. An amber warning for extreme heat was in effect across southeast England and East Anglia from midnight until 9 p.m. on Saturday.
In response to the overwhelming demand, the London Ambulance Service declared a critical incident between 10 p.m. and 1:30 a.m. on Friday. While the critical incident status has since been stood down, the service remains extremely busy. Chief Operating Officer Craig Harman expressed pride in the staff and volunteers who worked tirelessly through the exceptional heat and demand, while urging the public to stay hydrated, drink responsibly, and look after one another, especially with England playing in the World Cup.
Lower temperatures are anticipated to move in from the west over the weekend, gradually spreading eastward.