Ambulance crews in Victoria are increasingly facing perilous situations, with reports of being rammed by vehicles, physically assaulted, and threatened with objects like cricket bats. These incidents underscore the growing dangers faced by emergency responders, according to Ambulance Victoria.

Paramedic Luke Harrington recounted a harrowing experience on December 22, when he was violently confronted by an individual during a routine call. “The person began by striking the ambulance, shouting obscenities, and then escalated the situation by getting in my face and spitting on my neck,” Harrington shared.

In light of such risks, paramedics have been instructed to prioritize their safety and are advised to withhold treatment from individuals who exhibit aggressive behavior. The severity of these encounters has prompted Ambulance Victoria to take these precautions seriously.

Vanessa Gorman, the Metropolitan Director of Regional and Clinical Operations at Ambulance Victoria, commented on the dire situation, stating, “In my 30 years of emergency work, this is the worst I’ve ever seen it.” The escalating violence against paramedics highlights a critical issue that demands urgent attention.

“It’s the worst I’ve ever seen it in 30 years of emergency work,” Ambulance Victoria Metropolitan Director of Regional and Clinical Operations Vanessa Gorman said.

“It’s probably worse in regards to the severity of what is occurring.”

Ambulance Victoria is now urging the public to respect frontline workers.

“We stand here united to say this is not okay and it has to stop,”  Ambulance Victoria Metropolitan Director of Regional and Clinical Operations Andrew Burns said.

“Even over the last four days whilst everyone’s enjoying Christmas, our staff have endured ridiculous levels of both verbal assault through the use of revolting language and verbal intimidation, through to physical contact in both sexual assault and physical assault.”