An ambulance was vandalised and had its tyres slashed while paramedics were tending to a patient at the scene of an emergency. Paramedics were left in shock at Quantock Road in Risca in the early hours of Sunday, June 12 after the vehicle had its tyres let down, safety lugs removed from the wheel nuts and heater exhaust snapped.
Luckily the incident, which happened at about 2.20am, did not leave the patient in a critical condition - but the ambulance remains out of service. Kevin Crowther, service manager for the south east Wales area for the Welsh Ambulance Service, called the culprits “hugely irresponsible”.
“While dealing with a patient nearby, the ambulance vehicle was deliberately sabotaged,” he said. “It’s hugely irresponsible for people to vandalise emergency vehicles of any type, but more so at a time when the service is faced with high demand.
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“This was a malicious act which meant that one of our ambulances is now off the road for repairs, and is therefore unable to respond to 999 calls. Such reckless action can put lives at risk, and we would urge anyone with information to contact police.”
Welsh Ambulance operations manager Scott Davies shared the images on social media, and said: “It’s not often that things in life shock me, I’ve seen more than most people will ever do in their lifetime, but the one thing that really angers me is the deliberate sabotage of NHS equipment.
“Last night, while on a 999 call in Risca, one of our emergency ambulances was tampered with outside a patient's house. What good can possibly come of this action?”
Gwent Police is appealing for information in relation to the incident. Anyone with information including CCTV and dashcam footage can call Gwent Police on 101 quoting log reference 2200196178. Alternatively you can contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
