Vandals daubed red paint and faeces over an EMAS paramedic’s car while he was treating a patient.
The paramedic was responding to a 999 call and was at a caravan site in Bagworth when his vehicle was targeted. He returned to his vehicle after he had spent half an hour treating the patient inside one of the caravans to discover the car had been damaged.
He had to use gloves to get in to the vehicle because of what was smeared on to the door handle. The car has now been taken off the off the road and repairs could take several weeks.
Tim Hargraves, a paramedic and team leader at East Midlands Ambulance Service in Leicestershire, condemned the attack, describing it as “disgusting.” He said:
I was absolutely fuming when I was told about the incident. This was a deliberate attack, this wasn’t an accident. It has been carried out by someone who has not thought about their actions. Did they think it was a bit fun? They haven’t thought about the knock-on effect of us having to take a car off the road and the cost to the community.”
The paramedic was a first responder, whose job is to respond to 999 calls before summoning an ambulance if one is needed. In this case, the patient did not need to go to hospital. Mr Hargraves added:
He (the paramedic) went into one of the caravans to see to the patient and was with them for about half an hour. When he came out the car was covered in red paint and faeces including all over the door handles.
The paramedic had to use gloves to get into the car and he drove it to one of our workshops. It is now in out body shop while the full extent of the damage is assessed and repairs are carried out.”
EEMAS said the cost of having a car off the road and having to find a replacement is put at nearly £200 a day.This does not include the cost of the damage and repair to the vehicle. Mr Hargraves went on to say:
The saving grace, if there is one, is that there was no attack or violence to the paramedic. He was, however, upset and disturbed at the nature of the attack. We would ask anyone who knows anything about this to contact Leicestershire Police.”
A police spokesman added:
We are aware of the report by EMAS. Local officers are carrying out inquiries.”
