Cape Town - Brazen suspects again tried to target paramedics on the Cape Flats, but this time residents intervened.
On Thursday, medical personnel were nearly robbed in front of the day hospital in Mfuleni, in broad daylight.
The incident happened shortly after 1pm, but residents in the area saved paramedics when they arrived and chased off the attackers.
Emergency Medical Services (EMS) staff then took refuge inside the health facility and had to wait for police to escort them out of the area.
Emergency Medical and Forensic Pathology Services spokesman, Robert Daniels, says the crew was not harmed.
“At 1pm on Thursday, a Western Cape Government Health Emergency Medical Services ambulance was involved in an attempted armed robbery at the entrance to the Mfuleni Day Hospital.
"Fortunately the attackers fled when members of the public approached the ambulance and the crew were left uninjured and took refuge inside the medical facility until police were able to escort them out of the area,” said Daniels.
“Mfuleni was declared a red zone until 1pm Friday, meaning all crews required police escorts when entering the area."
However, police spokesperson, Lieutenant-Colonel André Traut, says there was no attempted robbery.
According to police, armed men were blocking the entrance of the facility.
“There is an incident that was reported of an ambulance that was blocked by unknown armed males from entering the clinic in Mfuleni Main Road.
"There was no attempt to take anything from the ambulance or the personnel,” Traut said.