Brick Thrown at GNAAS Rapid Response Crew After Assault Call
Two doctors and a paramedic from the Great North Air Ambulance Service (GNAAS) were targeted by thugs after responding to an assault in Trimdon Station.
Attack While Leaving Scene
After assessing the injured patient alongside the North East Ambulance Service’s (NEAS) HART team, the GNAAS crew was heading back to their base in Urlay Nook, Eaglescliffe, at 7.40pm when a brick smashed into the rear passenger side window and door of their rapid response vehicle.
GNAAS paramedic Jamie Walsh said: “The bang it made was pretty terrifying but thankfully we were all okay. Luckily it didn’t hit the centre of the window where our doctor was sitting as it would have come through and could have caused catastrophic injuries.”
Jamie added that NEAS HART’s vehicle was also attacked, with a brick thrown at its bonnet. “This is not a common occurrence,” he said. “We are very shocked and disappointed by the incident.”
Damage and Disruption
Thankfully, no major damage was done, and the GNAAS team were able to keep responding to emergencies throughout the night. However, repairing the vehicle will eat into the charity’s tight budget. Jamie highlighted the blow this deal is in today’s tough economic climate:
“It’s a shame that we will have to divert funds normally reserved for helping critically ill or injured people towards fixing the damage of the car.”
Busy Night Despite Attack
The attack came on a typically busy Saturday night. The GNAAS rapid response team was called out five times after the brick incident. The charity currently operates a paramedic and doctor crew on rapid response vehicles five nights a week and runs helicopter services during the day.
GNAAS hopes to expand their night-time service to seven nights a week, but can only do so with more funding. The service costs £7.7 million annually and responded to 1,732 incidents last year across helicopters and rapid response vehicles.
