‘He’s threatening to kill us’: Moment paramedics are forced to flee their ambulance in fear for their lives as ‘patient lashes out at 4am’
- Footage showed the paramedics running from the van while calling for help
- The two female workers alleged Ehtesham Ghaffar, 20, threatened to kill them
- Mr Ghaffar denied the claims and said he had a panic attack during the ordeal
Two female paramedics have been forced to flee their ambulance fearing for their lives after a patient allegedly attacked them during an early-morning callout.
The ambulance workers were called to a home in Greystanes in western Sydney at about 4am on Saturday to help a man with heart pain.
But instead of taking the man to hospital, footage obtained by 9 News showed the paramedics running from the van while calling for help.
‘We’re on foot, we’ve left the car, he’s threatening to kill us,’ they could be heard saying.
The panicked workers ran from the ambulance (pictured) and took refuge inside the home a neighbour
The panicked workers took refuge inside a stranger’s home.
‘We’re inside the residence where people have let us in. We are safe but still require armed assistance.’
The woman who let them into her home said the workers looked terrified.
‘The doorbell was ringing really crazy, just continuing,’ she said.
‘[The paramedics] were very shaken. They were very frightened.’
The officers alleged the patient, 20-year-old Ehtesham Ghaffar, threatened and lunged at them inside the ambulance.
Another neighbour said she saw the man run out of the ambulance and up the street (pictured on CCTV camera)
Another neighbour said she saw the man run out of the ambulance and up the street.
Mr Ghaffar was later taken to hospital by his mother before he was arrested and charged with assault.
He denied threatening the paramedics and claimed he was having a panic attack throughout the ordeal.
‘I’m like, “can you help me, I can’t breath” and they didn’t give me any response and then they just kept looking at me and I’m just telling them “help me, help me”,’ he said.
Ehtesham Ghaffar (pictured), 20, allegedly threatened and lunged at them inside the ambulance
‘I just grabbed my phone, and as soon as I grabbed my phone she ran out of the ambulance.’
NSW Ambulance Assistant Commissioner Tony Gately said the workers were ‘rattled’ by the experience.
He said: ‘In no way is it ever, ever appropriate for anyone to threaten, abuse, spit at attempt to assault a paramedic.’
The paramedics were wearing body cameras during the ordeal which will help police with their investigation.