By EMS1 Staff
NEWCASTLE, England — An ambulance windshield was shattered by a steel ball covered in snow while en route to a call.
Metro reported that two British Red Cross crew members were driving around 55 mph when the ambulance was hit by what appeared to be a snowball, but was actually a disguised ball of steel.
Nathan Thornton and his partner Mark Brockhurst were covered in shattered glass after the incident, according to Thornton.
“We were driving quite quickly with our blue flashing lights on, and there was a white flash and a massive bang,” Thornton said. “The windscreen shattered and we were covered in glass. At first I thought it was a chunk of ice which had fallen, but it turned out it was a steel ball covered in snow which had been thrown from the bridge.”
No patients were in the ambulance at the time, but the incident meant that another crew had to be sent to the call.
“It scared the life out of us,” Thornton said. “We rang our control who stood us down and sent another crew. We were the closest vehicle at the time so it delayed treatment for the patient.”
Both Thornton and Brockhurst were treated for eye injuries after the incident, which is currently under investigation.
“Luckily nobody has been seriously injured but if it wasn’t for the quick actions of the driver this vehicle could have left the road and people may have been seriously hurt,” Chief Inspector John Heckels said. “Those responsible may think this is just harmless fun but they are putting lives at risk through reckless and cowardly actions. This has to stop now.”
https://twitter.com/MetroUK/status/976084744453722112