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Paramedic injured in assault by road crash victim

A MAN involved in a car crash attacked two police officers and a paramedic who tried to help him.

Paramedics were called to a two-vehicle collision on the Dublin Road in Antrim at 6.30pm on Thursday.

The Ambulance Service said when they arrived, a man involved in the crash became verbally aggressive.

He punched and kicked out at a paramedic who was trying to help him.

The man suffered a hand injury as he tried to restrain the patient.

Despite the attack, the paramedic took him to hospital before he asked doctors to examine his own hand.

A 22-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of assault and driving while unfit.

He was later released on bail pending further police enquiries.

The Ambulance Service said the paramedic may have ligament damage to his thumb.

A spokesman said it "once again... finds itself in the position of having to call for stiff sentences to be given to those who assault our staff".

"We do not believe that any circumstances justify such assaults," he said.

"Our staff are committed to helping those who have an urgent need of assistance and should be left alone to do what they do best."

Alliance Antrim councillor Neil Kelly described the attack as "disgusting".

“Health staff do a fantastic job in often extremely challenging circumstances, even without attacks such as these," he said.

"To add to that burden by assaulting this paramedic is disgusting. Action needs to be taken to show such incidents are completely unacceptable. Any punishment must be severe in order to act as a future deterrent."

Ambulance staff have been the target of attacks in the past.

Last month a crew were targeted as they attended a patient in Cookstown, Co Tyrone.

Two members were injured after they were attacked by a drunk passer-by who later tried to drive away in the ambulance and damaged some of the equipment on board.

In March, two paramedics were also assaulted in separate attacks in Downpatrick, Co Down, and the Poleglass estate on the outskirts of west Belfast.