Attacks on paramedics
WC paramedics face threat of attacks as they save lives amid COVID second wave
Eyewitness News accompanied paramedics late last week as they navigated often dangerous territory in their quest to save lives.
Victor Labuschage was shot in the chest in Beacon Valley last Tuesday but fortunately, he was wearing his own bulletproof vest.
On Tuesday morning, two paramedics were on a call in Mitchells Plain when they came under attack.
The paramedic was shot in the chest, but fortunately, he was wearing his own bulletproof vest.
Two paramedics were on their way to pick up patients from the Khayelitsha Community Health Clinic on Monday when three men flagged them along Mew Way. They were then held up at gunpoint.
The Western Cape Health Department said since January, there have been 18 attacks on EMS officials.
There were four attacks on paramedics in areas including Lavender Hill and Philippi at the weekend.
Two paramedics responded to a call in Surrey Estate on Saturday afternoon and they were assaulted allegedly by the patient's family.
Last weekend was the busiest yet, with ambulance crews racing to attend to over 6,300 incidents in the Western Cape.
On Thursday, the pair responded to a call in Durban, where a man had been stabbed in the stomach.
The attack on a Metro EMS vehicle in Athlone brings to three the number of incidents involving ambulance crews over the past week.
The Western Cape Health Department said that 26 EMS-related incidents were reported in 2019.
In the latest of 16 attacks on ambulances in 2019, paramedics who were ambushed in Nyanga had their belongings stolen.
The city's EMS made the announcement after paramedics were attacked at the weekend while they were treating a patient.
The safety of emergency staff is back in the spotlight after three EMS members were attacked and an ambulance vehicle damaged while attending to a call at the weekend.
The City of Joburg’s Emergency Management Services said they were attacked while responding to a call and their belongings stolen.
Two paramedics were targeted while responding to a call in Harare on Saturday night.
The armed assailants fled with cellphones, wallets, wedding rings, radios and money.
The criminals stole cellphones, wallets, wedding rings, radios and an undisclosed amount of cash.