An ambulance crew was forced to take refuge in their vehicle when attending an emergency call in Portavogie on Friday 2 January 2009.

The crew were responding to reports of a male with head injuries which had been sustained as a result of a fall. They arrived at the scene to find a male patient lying in a car park. As they approached to assess and treat him, he immediately jumped to his feet and became verbally aggressive to the crew issuing threats against them.

Fearing that he could become physically violent, the crew retreated to the safety of their ambulance. The patient then proceeded to tear off the front grill of the ambulance and for some unknown reason reached into the engine. Worried that this might cause him further harm the crew were forced to switch off the engine and remain in the car park. Whilst the crew called for help from the PSNI the patient continued with his attack breaking off the front wipers and attempting to smash the front and side windows of the ambulance, causing damage to the side mirrors. This sustained attack lasted for approximately 25 minutes.

The PSNI then arrived to arrest the assailant.

NIAS strongly condemns this attack on a crew who were there to provide assistance to this person in his time of need.

The safety of the communities in the area was compromised as a result of this person's behaviour. NIAS would therefore call on all community and political representatives to continue with their efforts in ensuring that ambulance personnel enjoy a safe working environment when responding to the community's needs.