NEWCASTLE – An ER24 medic was stabbed and assaulted while attending to a motor vehicle collision on Ohrtmann Road, Pietermaritzburg.
The incident took place recently, after paramedics stumbled upon the collision while transporting patients from a previous collision attended.
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According to paramedics they pulled over to assess the incident and establish whether further help was required.
Four occupants of one of the vehicles involved in the collision allegedly verbally assaulted the paramedics and the situation escalated when one of the occupants produced a knife and attacked a paramedic.
A member of the public intervened and attempted to disarmed the knife-wielding man, but the paramedic had already sustained wounds to his face and hands.
In the interim, police were alerted and another ER24 vehicle was dispatched to the scene.
It is believed the suspect ran across the road after stabbing the paramedic and returned with a brick in an attempt to assault the ER24 team.
One of the paramedics managed to disarm the suspect.
Police arrived on scene and the suspect apparently proceeded to verbally assault the police officers and attempted once again to assault the medical crew.
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It is understood the suspect also assaulted the driver of the other vehicle involved in the collision.
Police at Mountain Rise Police Station, detained four suspects.
A case of assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm, common assault, reckless and negligent driving, malicious damage to property as well as resisting arrest has been opened.
The injured paramedic received several stitches to his face and hand and sustained multiple bruises. He was attended to at a nearby Mediclinic.
“He is currently doing well and will be supported by the company where needed. The patients that were originally being transported in the ambulance were later transported privately to a nearby hospital,” said an ER24 Spokesperson.
