ER24 paramedics robbed in Khayelitsha

02062010. Members of the ER24 were stoped by the members of the Tshwane Metro Police and told that something was wrong with they lights Picture: Sizwe Ndingane

02062010. Members of the ER24 were stoped by the members of the Tshwane Metro Police and told that something was wrong with they lights Picture: Sizwe Ndingane

Published Jan 30, 2016

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Cape Town - Less than 24 hours after three City of Johannesburg paramedics were held at gunpoint in Yeoville, two ER24 paramedics have also been held at gunpoint and robbed in Khayelitsha, Cape Town.

ER24 spokesman Werner Vermaak said on Saturday paramedics had received a dispatch call at about 10.30pm on Friday night for a person “not feeling well”.

“They made their way to the incident in Tamble Street, Khayelitsha. Upon their arrival they found that the house was dark and went to knock on the door. A woman eventually opened the door and indicated that she did not contact the emergency services,” he said.

The two paramedics then drove to a nearby metro police station where they waited for the ER24 emergency contact centre to confirm the address of the caller. Again the caller provided the emergency resource officer with the same address, this time stating that he was living at the back of the premises.

“Paramedics made their way back to the house where they alerted the woman to call for the man living on her property. According to the two paramedics they waited quite some time before the woman returned with the man.

“While paramedics were assessing the man he indicated that he needs to fetch his house keys and identity document. He quickly went back into the house and paramedics had no reason to suspect any criminal activity,” Vermaak said.

While one of the paramedics was preparing the bed in the back of the ambulance for the man, the sliding door of the ambulance was pulled open and an unknown man demanded their valuables.

“The other paramedic, near the front of the ambulance at the time, ran around the ambulance for protection when he noticed the firearm. The paramedic in the back of the ambulance tried to get out of the vehicle and was immediately confronted by the same gunman at the back door of the ambulance.

“The paramedic explained that within a split second the man jumped into the back of the ambulance and held a firearm to the front of his forehead while demanding his cellphone.

“He [the armed man] was very calm”, the paramedic said. After he took the cellphone he kept pointing the firearm at the paramedic and then calmly walked towards an abandoned house in the street.

The two paramedics immediately called out to the patient but found that he was not on the scene. The paramedics, fearing for their safety, left the scene and drove to the nearby metro police department.

They provided a statement and were advised to report the incident to the police.

A case of armed robbery was registered at Strand Police Station.

ER24 called on anyone with information to contact the police. At this stage it was not clear whether the caller was involved in the incident.

“Paramedics and emergency workers are neutral. We do not take sides and it makes it extremely difficult for paramedics and emergency workers to assist the community when they [paramedics] feel threatened,” Vermaak said.

On Thursday, an ER24 ambulance was broken into in Entabeni, Durban.

The damage caused was so severe that the vehicle had to be towed from the base, and it would most likely take several weeks before it would be operational again, he said.

African News Agency

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