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Knife attack terror of 999 crew | Knife attack terror of 999 crew |
(4 days later) | |
An ambulance man has described how he was chased and attacked with a carving knife while on a call-out. | An ambulance man has described how he was chased and attacked with a carving knife while on a call-out. |
Carl Jones, 35, from Bargoed in Caerphilly county says he has had four months off work this year because of two assaults while doing his job. | Carl Jones, 35, from Bargoed in Caerphilly county says he has had four months off work this year because of two assaults while doing his job. |
He spoke as a Welsh MP's bill giving greater protection to emergency workers gets closer to becoming law. | He spoke as a Welsh MP's bill giving greater protection to emergency workers gets closer to becoming law. |
The Welsh Ambulance Service said it did everything possible to limit risks. | The Welsh Ambulance Service said it did everything possible to limit risks. |
The Emergency Workers Obstruction Bill received it final reading in the House of Commons on Thursday, after being introduced by Swansea West MP Alan Williams. | The Emergency Workers Obstruction Bill received it final reading in the House of Commons on Thursday, after being introduced by Swansea West MP Alan Williams. |
You're a captive audience and a captive punch bag Christine Bigmore, paramedic | You're a captive audience and a captive punch bag Christine Bigmore, paramedic |
Once it is given royal assent it will create a new law making it an offence to hinder emergency workers, and allowing fines of up to £5,000. | Once it is given royal assent it will create a new law making it an offence to hinder emergency workers, and allowing fines of up to £5,000. |
The legislation comes amid growing concern about the safety of emergency staff such as Mr Jones, an ambulance technician. | The legislation comes amid growing concern about the safety of emergency staff such as Mr Jones, an ambulance technician. |
He had been called out to a house in Ely, Cardiff, in the early hours when the attack happened. | He had been called out to a house in Ely, Cardiff, in the early hours when the attack happened. |
He and his paramedic colleague had been warned about a man, who was under the influence of drugs and alcohol and harming himself. | He and his paramedic colleague had been warned about a man, who was under the influence of drugs and alcohol and harming himself. |
When they arrived at the house, Mr Jones said they tried to calm him down. | When they arrived at the house, Mr Jones said they tried to calm him down. |
"But he went into the kitchen and I could hear him rummaging in a cutlery drawer," Mr Jones explained. | "But he went into the kitchen and I could hear him rummaging in a cutlery drawer," Mr Jones explained. |
"He came out with a carving knife and made it clear he was coming for us." | "He came out with a carving knife and made it clear he was coming for us." |
'Up against' | 'Up against' |
Mr Jones and his colleague backed out of the house. | Mr Jones and his colleague backed out of the house. |
"He just kept coming after me with the knife so I ran behind a parked flatbed truck and he chased me round it," he said. | "He just kept coming after me with the knife so I ran behind a parked flatbed truck and he chased me round it," he said. |
They managed to get the man, who was "bleeding everywhere," into the ambulance, before the police arrived and disarmed him. | They managed to get the man, who was "bleeding everywhere," into the ambulance, before the police arrived and disarmed him. |
"They took him in but he bit a female police sergeant and a nurse in casualty and he kicked the custody officer in the head, said Mr Jones. | "They took him in but he bit a female police sergeant and a nurse in casualty and he kicked the custody officer in the head, said Mr Jones. |
"This is what we are up against." | "This is what we are up against." |
'Punch bag' | 'Punch bag' |
Christine Bigmore, a 52-year-old paramedic from Cardiff, also described how she was punched in the chest when she tried to stop a man stealing an ambulance from the station. | Christine Bigmore, a 52-year-old paramedic from Cardiff, also described how she was punched in the chest when she tried to stop a man stealing an ambulance from the station. |
"We've had plenty of violent attacks on staff and we tend not to even bother reporting the verbal abuse and foul language," she said. | "We've had plenty of violent attacks on staff and we tend not to even bother reporting the verbal abuse and foul language," she said. |
"You're a captive audience and a captive punch bag." | "You're a captive audience and a captive punch bag." |
Regional ambulance officer George Murphy said aggressive or violent behaviour towards emergency workers was "totally unacceptable". | Regional ambulance officer George Murphy said aggressive or violent behaviour towards emergency workers was "totally unacceptable". |
"We do everything we can to ensure we limit the risk our staff face in doing their jobs," he said. | "We do everything we can to ensure we limit the risk our staff face in doing their jobs," he said. |