The Australian Paramedics Association (NSW) has condemned the behaviour of a large group of angry males who threatened and assaulted paramedics trying to save the life of a 25 year old man at Riverwood today.
APA (NSW) Secretary Steve Pearce said five paramedics were called to a unit block in Iris St Riverwood at about 8am this morning for a suspected overdose.
Mr Pearce said when paramedics arrived and attempted to treat the patient family members became irate and tried to intervene. Up to 80 angry males quickly gathered at the unit, threatening paramedics and charging a female paramedic who injured her shoulder.
"Paramedics were forced to fend off angry males who eventually forced them to stop treating the patient who was in cardiac arrest and subsequently died."
"We had the outrageous situation where a violent mob demanded paramedics hand over a defibrillator and drugs, saying they would treat the patient."
Mr Pearce said paramedics were forced to retreat to the unit and barricade the door under threats of further violence.
Police were called with more than 150 officers attending the scene, including members of the Public Order Riot Squad. Paramedics were released but by that time the patient was deceased.
"This is outrageous behaviour by members of a family whose actions have most likely contributed to a death that may well have been avoidable," Mr Pearce said.
"Paramedics are being subjected to this type of aggression all too often and it is time those who think it is acceptable to attack paramedics woke up to themselves," he said.
"This just has to stop and we need more intervention by police much earlier to make sure our paramedics and our patients are safe."
"Those who think it is acceptable to stop paramedics while they are trying to save a life ought to consider the consequences of their actions," he said.
Mr Pearce said attacks on paramedics in the Bankstown area had become a regular occurrence.
"On this occasion the stupidity of these people have taken the life of their family member. We don’t want any more people to face the horrifying situation of their loved ones dying because paramedics are unable to treat patients after threats of violence."
"We have been trying to get the NSW Government and NSW Ambulance to take attacks on paramedics seriously but so far they have failed to implement adequate strategies to keep paramedics safe."
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