TV interview reveals horror of stabbing
INJURED AMBULANCE WORKERS RECALL INCIDENT ON ‘THIS MORNING’
TWO paramedics serving Staffordshire have detailed the horrific events of when they were both stabbed on duty in an interview on ITV’S This Morning.
Presenters Eamonn Holmes and Ruth Langsford spoke to Deena Evans and Mick Hipgrave on Monday’s programme as they told the hosts how they were the victims of a completely unprovoked attack while on a routine welfare check on July 6, 2020.
More than 3,500 attacks on emergency service staff were recorded in 2020, while assaults on paramedics have gone up by almost a third in five years.
Mick watched his colleague Deena being stabbed in the chest before the attacker, carrying two large kitchen knives, stabbed him in the back.
The West Midlands Ambulance Service paramedic revealed: “During the incident after she had been stabbed I had tried to protect her, cover her up, and unfortunately he stabbed me as well.”
The pair had gone to the home Martyn Smith, 52, after concerns were raised by his mother, with the two paramedics, the police, and the man’s mother all arriving as part of a welfare check
“The police had come with us just o force entry,” Deena revealed, “so there weren’t any violence markers on the address.”
Deena had entered the property without worry as it was “like any other job”. At the mother’s request for minimal damage to the door, the team removed the panels of the door to get into the house as they could be placed back. Mick removed the panels and Deena was at the front of the line.
Deena detailed “As I stepped through I said ‘That porch door has been opened, somebody’s in,’ but by that time it was already too late.” As she pushed through the door and made herself known to those inside, Martin ran at her with the two knives.
“I felt like I had been punched to start with,” said Deena, “because you don’t feel the stab wound.” Deena recalled Mick jumping in front of her and feeling him lunge forwards and she thought he had been punched too.
“I then thought that my t-shirt feels very wet and warm,” noted Deena, who then noticed the blood and shouted: “I’ve been stabbed, I’ve been stabbed!”
Mick was then heard to respond “Me too!”
He had been stabbed in the back on his right side, but Mick managed to throw a wheelie bin to create a barrier between Martin and the two of them.
The police then shouted “Taser” and Deena and Mick ran into the garden.
It was noted that Mr Smith had no severe psychiatric condition noted that could have affected the incident.
Police had attended to Deena and Mick and an ambulance was called to help them.
Deena detailed: “So I remember Mick helping to stem the bleeding even though I could feel him bleeding onto me. I was trying to hold his side and he was trying to hold my chest.
“And I remember a female officer but there was so much commotion going on and I remember grabbing her collar and I remember saying ‘Please don’t let me die, I’ve got three children, please don’t let me die.”
She then added: “At that point, I knew I was dying.”
Deena then got visibly emotional and Ruth apologised for her upset and revealed how their boss heard the situation over their radios and jumped in a car to come to help them after Deena had pressed her button to speak on a channel to their colleagues.
Their wounds healed but Mick revealed that they were both suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder as a result of the event. “We’ve had good and bad days with our mental health,” but Mick revealed they were both improving with counselling. Deena broke down in tears and Ruth passed her a box of tissues to dry her face and the presenter was seen looking pained and mouthing “I’m sorry”.
Mick revealed he resolved to keep doing the job he loves after what happened, while Deena affirmed the same reason and that “not all patients are horrible”. Eamonn then encouraged everyone in the studio to give them and frontline workers a round of applause, prompting Deena to break down in tears once again. Eamonn said: “We mean that out of love and kindness and admiration. Respect to you both. Keep doing what you do...”
I felt like I had been punched to start with because you don’t feel the stab wound.
Deena Evans