By EMS1 Staff
NEW YORK — A veteran EMT described being nearly yanked out of her ambulance by a stranger.
The 14-year EMS veteran, who chose to remain anonymous, said she was on her way to a call when a stranger, who she described as “so angry,” tried to pull her out of her ambulance, according to NBC New York.
The EMT’s partner then pushed on the gas and drove off, and the attacker got away. She added that her first thought during the incident was of Yadira Arroyo, an EMT who was killed last year after being run over by an ambulance carjacker.
“I fought. I fought. I have family I have to come home to and she never got to go home to her family that night,” the EMT said.
EMS union president Oren Barzilay said attacks on first responders are increasing and responders have no way to protect themselves.
“Once or twice a day, I get a report of one of our members assaulted and sent to the hospital,” he said.
Although the EMT was left with “shooting pain” in her wrist, neck and back hip, she said she is not deterred from continuing her career.
“That’s what we’re here to do, help those people in that community,” she said.