Driver in tirade at medic on 999 call for blocking his way
A DRIVER who launched a tirade of abuse at a paramedic for blocking a street with her ambulance during a 999 call-out has sparked fury.
Footage of the incident emerged online yesterday amid growing outrage at attacks on ambulance staff.
Calling her a “f ****** idiot” the motorist gets out of his van to confront the paramedic.
She tells him “someone is ill” but her explanation appears to be lost on the man.
Unconcerned, he continued his foul-mouthed rant in Runcorn, Cheshire, at 5pm on Sunday.
The man tells the paramedic to “do her f ****** job properly” and complains that the ambulance does not have its hazard lights on. He then drives off.
Cheshire police are investigating. Video of the incident was posted to Facebook and has caused outrage.
The video starts with the man telling the paramedic that her ambulance is obstructing the road and suggesting staff should have stopped to put signs out.
The paramedic replies: “Well open your eyes.” As the incident escalates he swears repeatedly and shouts: “Where’s the f ****** hazards? All you need is a blue light.” He continued: “f ****** idiot, go do your f ****** job properly.”
A North West Ambulance Service spokesman said: “This man needs to ask himself how he would feel if it was his grandparent, mum, dad or child that we were treating.
“Would he be happy that we waste precious time searching for a better parking space?”
The spokesman added: “Our staff work day and night to save lives and do not deserve abuse from anyone for something as trivial as blocking a minor road. What was a minor inconvenience for him was a traumatic time for this patient.
“If he would like to get in touch so we can explain how every second counts when saving a life, we would be happy to arrange this.”
Ami Garner caught the exchange on camera and urged people on Facebook to raise awareness of the difficulties faced by paramedics.
She posted: “So this is the abuse our paramedics face for parking in the street whilst saving a life.”
However, last night the man in the video came forward and apologised. Decorator Colin Anderson, 50, said: “My use of language was not acceptable and I understand and apologise for this.
“The NHS do an amazing job. I have the upmost respect for them and I understand the need to park where she did – I just wish that I hadn’t reacted in the way I had.”