EMTs beaten, robbed while on call

Two paramedics, who reacted to a distress call, are being treated for injuries sustained after a group of men mugged them.

Durban – Two KwaZulu-Natal paramedics were assaulted and robbed in Durban when they stopped to render assistance to a group of youths that they thought needed help.

KwaZulu-Natal health department spokesman Desmond Motha on Friday said that the two paramedics were robbed and assaulted in the Nhlungwane area of Inanda in Durban.

Motha said on Wednesday, just before midnight, two paramedics were responding to a distress call from a 34-year-old woman who had reportedly been suffering from severe vomiting and diarrhoea when they were flagged down by a group of men.

“They stopped to assist, but were accosted by a group of five men. The driver tried to run for help, but fell during the incident. Both paramedics were assaulted by the group with a blunt object and sustained injuries.”

Both paramedics were robbed. They were later taken to hospital for treatment.

According to Motha’s statement it was not known what came of the woman in distress because assistance could not be rendered to her. It was her initial distress call that paramedics were responding.

African News Agency