RESERVOIR, Australia —Two people were charged and another arrested over an alleged assault on two paramedics Thursday.
The Sydney Morning Herald reported the paramedics had been treating an elderly patient when three bystanders tried to help the medics treat the patient. The paramedics discouraged them and the group temporarily moved away, but came back and attacked the paramedics after trying to help once again.
One of the paramedics was kicked, punched, knocked to the ground and sustained a broken foot, cuts and bruises. The second paramedic was struck on the back of the head as she attempted to help her colleague.
The three people then got into a car and rammed the ambulance before driving away. Two of the attackers, a 15-year-old boy and a 30-year old woman, were charged with intentionally causing serious injury, serious assault of a first responder and other assault-related offenses. An 18-year-old woman surrendered to police and is currently being questioned about the attack.
According to Mick Stephenson, general manager of emergency operations, the patient the paramedics were treating was the resident of a local home. The attackers did not appear to know the patient.
“We do not tolerate violence, threats or abuse toward our paramedics and will support our paramedics and police in bringing action against those involved, “Stephenson said.
Stephenson said one paramedic is assaulted every day on average, but most attacks never get reported.
“It’s very hard to do when people interfere with it, and particularly difficult ... when this sort of stuff is happening every day,” he said. “Demonstrate the respect to paramedics that they deserve. To have this stuff happen when you’re trying to do your work is completely intolerable, completely unacceptable.”