Paramedics assaulted and ambulance damaged in seventh attack in two weeks on North East's ambulance crews

The latest incident in a shocking wave of violence against the North East Ambulance Service occurred in the early hours of Saturday morning on the A19 near Peterlee.

A crew based in the Cleveland area were travelling back to base when they passed a man walking up the A19 dual carriageway in the opposite direction.

The double-crewed ambulance stopped, put on their blue lights to protect the man from oncoming traffic, and offered to take him to safety in the back of their vehicle.

But once on the ambulance the man became aggressive, causing damage to the vehicle and physically assaulting the crew, punching one of them in the left side of his head with a clenched fist.

The crew moved away from the vehicle for their own safety and police arrived on scene shortly after to arrest the man.

Deputy chief executive Paul Liversidge said: “Our crew stopped to help a man who was clearly in a dangerous situation on the road. He told them that he had been drinking with friends and was now walking home. For their thanks in trying to help him, our paramedic was punched across his face and another vehicle has been damaged.

“We can repair and replace our ambulances, but the physical and psychological harm caused to my crews is far more serious and has a longer-lasting impact.”

Mr Liversidge said CCTV footage from the back of the vehicle would be handed over to the police.

Earlier this month crews were violently assaulted in three separate incidents across the region – leaving two staff in hospital and two ambulances damaged.