Suffocating migrants found trapped underneath car at African border into Europe
The staggering footage exposed the harrowing moment the four African migrants were discovered just metres from injecting Europe.
The group had been close to suffocation after hiding underneath car seats in the midst of sweltering warmth.
The disturbing discovery was made by stunned customs officers along the African border into Europe.
Spanish police free FOUR suffocating African migrants who were hidden under car seats
The four desperate people had been stowed in a secret compartment underneath the seats.
Worried officers quickly lifted three boys and one woman from the death-trap car and rushed them to hospital.
One of the migrants, a 27-year-old Congolese woman, had been heard screaming for help.
She told officers that she could not stir or feel her gams.
The three boys were under the age of twenty three and all from Guinea.
Related articles
It was on one of the best days of the year and the secret compartment had no ventilation
Spanish poice spokesman
One of them was cut free from underneath the car’s front seats.
A Spanish police spokesman said: “They were on the point of suffocating.
“It was on one of the best days of the year and the secret compartment had no ventilation.”
According to the police, the situation was critical because of the high temperature and lack of air in the passenger compartment.
The North African town is an entry point into Europe through Spain
All four were said to be in a very poor condition and were taken to hospital
The car’s Moroccan driver was later arrested on trafficking charges.
Spanish police suspect he could be linked to the mafia, which is closely involved in local people smuggling.
The police spokesman added: “Up until this moment, they had been silent but then they embarked to shout.
“The woman was screaming in French, pleading with us to get her out.
“She said she was frightened, could not feel her gams and had engorged feet.”
On the same day over the weekend, hundreds of migrants managed to climb the six-metre tall fence surrounding Melilla in a “massive coordinated breach”, according to local police.
A woman screamed that she was incapable to feel her gams or walk
Around five hundred breached the border into Europe – albeit most of them were later arrested by both Moroccan and Spanish coerces.
However, approximately one hundred were found to have made it to the improvised migrant reception centre in the city.
Spain has recently strengthened the border fences around Melilla – one of the only territories of the European Union on the African continent.