‘Paramedic hurt rival colleague’

A CASE of assault has been opened with the police by Emer-G-Med Emergency Roadside Service after one of its employees was allegedly attacked by another private ambulance service worker at the scene of an accident.

Police spokesperson Captain Steve Malatji said a fight was allegedly started by a paramedic belonging to the other service.

“Apparently, a member from the crew of (another service) started to shout at the guys who were helping the injured; they ignored him and kept doing their job. He got frustrated and enraged by their ignoring him‚ and he insulted them,” said Malatji.

The incident occurred on the R55 on Monday afternoon. The two ambulance providers had been summoned to the scene of an accident, which involved several vehicles.

Emer-G-Med said it had dispatched an advanced life-support unit‚ a primary-care ambulance and a paramedic team who treated several patients.

“While one of our intermediate life-support members was treating a patient, he was viciously assaulted by what appears to have been an ambulance driver of a small ambulance service.

“Our advanced life-support paramedic intervened, removed our member out of harm’s way and continued rendering emergency care to the injured patient,” Emer-G-Med said.

The injured medic, who has not been identified, was taken to hospital after the “unprovoked” attack.

Emer-G-Med rejected a claim that its employee had stabbed the ambulance worker.

“Our member – who was the victim of an unprovoked and deliberate attack – was taken to hospital and treated for facial lacerations and a ruptured ear drum. He is also undergoing trauma counselling,” said Emer-G-Med.

The other ambulance service accused of the attack was not reached by the time of publishing.