Yobs spit at paramedic treating injured man and smash defibrillator

£13,000 machine was smashed and urinated on

CLUBBERS in Hinckley spat at a paramedic and stole his defibrillator before smashing it to pieces and urinating on it.

The life-saving piece of equipment was snatched from an East Midlands Ambulance Service paramedic while he treated a patient following an incident at Voodoo Lounge on Regent Street.

The £13,000 defibrillator was later found destroyed, with no batteries and covered in urine in a nearby car park.

While the paramedic attempted to treat an injured man, some people in the crowd hurled abuse and even spat at him, EMAS said.

The Fast Response Vehicle (FRV) has been taken off the road for repairs and a “deep clean”.

Mark Gregory, general manager for EMAS in Leicestershire, condemned the “disgraceful” and “appalling” act.

He said: “I find it really hard to believe that anybody could harm another person who dedicates their life to helping others.

“To assault a staff member is unacceptable and to spit at them is disgraceful.

“Further to this is the appalling theft of a life-saving piece of equipment and the disgusting act of urinating on it.

“Our staff work tirelessly to help the people of Leicestershire in sometimes difficult circumstances and do not deserve to be treated in this way.”

He urged people to drink alcohol responsibly in the run up to Christmas - a period which often puts strain on the emergency services.

“Thankfully most people who read this will be equally as shocked at what has happened,” he said.

“I would urge readers to always consider their behaviours and actions towards others particularly as we head into the festive period.”

Leicestershire Police say they have “clear” CCTV footage of the person responsible for the damage to the defibrillator.

They urged the suspect to hand themselves in before the image is released as part of a public appeal.

PC 1289 Clive Clarke from Hinckley police said: “Around 4am on December 4, a paramedic’s defibrillator was stolen in Hinckley town centre while they were treating a patient.

“Several hours later, this life-saving piece of equipment was found discarded and damaged in a nearby car park.

“Following an extensive CCTV trawl we have now recovered a clear facial shot of the suspect.

“Before the image is released in a public appeal we would like the person responsible to ring 101 to arrange handing themselves in.”

The paramedic, who was responding to a different incident, was flagged down by a police officer at the scene.

A spokeswoman for EMAS said: “Alcohol can cloud people’s judgement but there is no excuse for assaulting a member of ambulance staff and damaging a lifesaving piece of equipment.

“The lifepak defibrillator was taken from a paramedic as he was treating a patient and was later found damaged, with no batteries and covered in urine.

“The paramedic was responding in a Fast Response Vehicle when a police officer flagged him down to support with an incident in Hinckley town centre.

“Lots of people were around the patient and as the crowds gathered the equipment was taken. The paramedic was also subject to abuse and was spat at by people in the crowd.”

She said the injured man at Voodoo Lounge did not go to hospital and his injuries are thought to be minor.