By Euan Stretch
The Mirror
KENT, England — An air ambulance pilot was attacked after he tried to stop two men hanging on to his helicopter as he responded to a 999 call for a baby with scald burns.
The pilot was grabbed by the throat when he told the pair to get off the aircraft.
One was seen hanging from the tail fin and the other was swinging on a cockpit door. The charity-funded Kent Air Ambulance had landed in a field in Sevenoaks on Sunday.
The men prevented it from taking an injured baby to hospital, said Kent Air Ambulance Trust. Instead the child was transported by road. John Tickner, chief executive of Kent Air Ambulance Trust, said: “I find it incredible that anybody would attack a charity air ambulance and its crew, whose sole purpose is to help seriously injured people.”
Mr Tickner said the helicopter was not returned to service for 24 hours as it had to be inspected. A 19-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of criminal damage and public order offences.
A 17-year-old was arrested on suspicion of common assault and public order offences.
Both were released on bail.
Copyright 2010 MGN Ltd.