Paramedic punched in head and bitten in Co Antrim
An ambulance crew has been assaulted by a patient who they had been called to treat in the early hours of this morning in Co Antrim.
A paramedic was punched in the head and bitten during the incident around 3.30am on the Ballybogey Road in the Ballymoney area.
A spokesman for the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service said: “The patient had sustained a head injury and the crew treated him before he lashed out in the back of the ambulance, pulling equipment and dressings from their storage points.
“In attempting to restrain the patient, a paramedic received a punch to the head and was bitten on the arm. The patient was eventually subdued and taken to Causeway Hospital for treatment.
“The paramedic was also assessed at the Emergency Department and was then ‘stood down’ for the remainder of the shift, leaving the Ballycastle area dependent upon neighbouring stations to provide cover.
“This is the latest in a series of attacks on ambulance staff and the Trust again calls for strongest possible action to be taken against anyone found guilty of assaulting ambulance crews.”