Two men were arrested by police today (Thursday, January 28) after a distressing incident at East Surrey Hospital last week involving the abuse of hospital staff.

In a statement released this afternoon, Surrey Police, investigating, said that a 45-year-old man from Maidstone, Kent, was arrested and is being detained "on suspicion of causing a public nuisance".

A second man was also arrested Thursday afternoon "on suspicion of assisting an offender" and is also in custody.

As the Surrey Comet reported previously, the incident happened last week (Thursday, January 21) when a group of people gained access to the critical care ward at East Surrey Hospital in Redhill to visit a family member and were abusive towards hospital staff while on site.

"A number of people, some of whom were not wearing masks, gained access to the critical care ward to visit a family member and were abusive towards hospital staff when they were asked to do so.

"They also refused to leave," a statement published by Surrey Police describing the event read.

The police later arrived, fining two of the group for breaching covid restrictions.

They also issued a 'breach of the peace' warning which resulted in the group, who could subsequently have been arrested, leaving the location.

Reports emerged yesterday that those involved denied the existence of coronavirus, prompting condemnation.

East Surrey Detective Chief Inspector Kimball Edey said Thursday: "The appeal generated hundreds of calls from members of the public with information as to his whereabouts and we would like to thank both them and the media for their help in tracking him down.

"I would also like to thank our colleagues at Kent Police, who assisted with the arrests.

"The man will be interviewed and further updates will be issued in due course."