A TEENAGER was airlifted to a London hospital yesterday afternoon after an incident at a home in Thorpe Bay.

The boy was taken ill at the house in Fermoy Road at about 3.30pm.

Police were called and closed off the road for almost an hour while officers and paramedics attended the scene.

The boy was taken by air ambulance to the Royal London Hospital, Whitechapel, one of the largest children’s hospitals in the UK – and one of London’s busiest paediatric accident and emergency departments.

Up to six police cars attended, as well as two ambulances before the air ambulance was called in. Police stood guard outside the address, and the house next door, following the incident.

A witness, who wished to remain anonymous, said: “I don’t know what happened, but before the ambulance arrived, I saw a young boy crying leaning against the wall outside the house, then a girl came out to comfort him and take him inside the house, butIhaven’t seen anyone since.

“At first, a small ambulance turned up, but then all these other vehicles showed up.

“We then saw the air ambulance – at first I thought it was for something happening at sea as it was flying that way, but then it landed at Thorpe Hall golf course.

“Soon after someone came out on a stretcher and was put into an ambulance – they were behind a screen, but you could see drips and defibrillators.

That ambulance then drove across to the golf course.”

A police spokeswoman said: “Police were called just before 3.25pm with concerns for a teenage boy who had been taken ill at an address in Fermoy Road.

“Officers assisted the landing of the air ambulance and the boy was air lifted to the Royal London Hospital.”

Air ambulance chiefs confirmed a male was flown to the Royal London Hospital in Whitechapel for further care after a call to an address in Southend.