An ambulance crew member was allegedly attacked by a pastor recently at a church in Katlehong while responding to a collapse case at around 11:34am.
Reports said the crew entered the church building with the relevant medical equipment prepared for “patient assessment and treatment”, but before they could do that, the pastor carried what appeared to be the lifeless body of a child out and attempted to load the body into the ambulance.
A confrontation allegedly ensued between the crew and the pastor which left the female ambulance driver with a laceration to her face, with the congregation spectating in support of the pastor.
During this time the crew had called for back-up and soon the local police and firefighters arrived on the scene to remedy the situation.
The ambulance driver had to lock herself in the fire engine for her safety as members of the church began to howl profanities at her.
“An advanced life support paramedic was among those who were on the scene as back-up and the child was declared dead in the ambulance.
“Another driver had to be assigned on the scene to transport the deceased in the ambulance to the government mortuary in Germiston while the terrified ambulance driver had to be booked off and hospitalised for IOD (injury on duty),” said district manager media liaison for Ekurhuleni Disaster Management and Emergency Services (DEMS), William Ntladi.
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Ntladi also added that they were thankful for the swift response of the police officers who saved the situation.
In a time when the country was echoing sentiments of the 16 Days of Activism, a plea against the abuse of women and children, DEMS pleaded with community members to stop attacks on emergency personnel, damaging vehicles and fire station property, as this had become a trend.
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