This afternoon, a paramedic from ER24 Durban was robbed of his personal belongings while attending to a patient in KwaMashu.
Two paramedics received an emergency at a doctor’s room for a patient with chest pain. They assessed the patient and loaded the patient into the ambulance. One of the paramedics returned to the doctor’s rooms with the wheelchair when people started shouting that they were assaulting one of the medics outside. The paramedic rushed outside and noticed his colleague and the patient in severe shock.
It is understood that a group of six young men ripped open the pockets of the paramedic’s uniform looking for his wallet. They took the wallet and took all the money. The group went through the ambulance and grabbed two bags belonging to the medics as well as mobile phones. They also grabbed the Emergency Vehicle Dispatch Unit and ripped it out of the ambulance’s dashboard.
The paramedics continued to treat the patient and made their way to a nearby hospital before reporting the incident at the local police station.
A case of assault and robbery was opened at the Mayville Police Station in Durban.
In a separate incident, at approximately 11am this morning paramedics from ER24’s Rescue Ambulance noticed a vehicle driving into oncoming traffic near Christiaan De Wet in Johannesburg West. Moments later the car crashed into the ambulance. Members of the public stopped on the scene and indicated that the driver collided with several other vehicles as well.
Two paramedics approached the man to ask if he was injured after the collision. The man got out of his vehicle and pulled out a knife. The two paramedics retreated, and the man still came at them with the knife. Fortunately, due to their EMSHE (Emergency Medical Support during Hostile Environments) training, they were able to defend themselves while they were waiting for the police to arrive on the scene. The man was arrested on scene and taken to a nearby police station. A case will be opened at the station.
Fortunately, none of the paramedics were injured in these incidents.
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