Paramedic allegedly attacked while trying to help man lying on road

A QUEENSLAND paramedic has told of his terror at a brutal attack by an unconscious patient who woke suddenly and began punching the officer and threatening to kill him. GRAPHIC IMAGES

A GOLD Coast paramedic has told of his terror at a brutal attack by an unconscious patient who woke suddenly and began punching the officer and threatening to kill him as the ambulance headed to hospital.

In one of the most shocking attacks seen recently amid a rising tide of violence against frontline emergency services workers, a badly bruised and shaken Brad Johnson, 48, says he was assaulted for up to 10 minutes as he tried in vain to defend himself against the ‘big, strong bloke’.

“He was standing above me in the back of the ambulance hitting me with two clenched fists to my head and upper body,” Mr Johnson told The Sunday Mail.

“At one stage, he was yelling ‘I’m going to kill you’.

“We were confined in the back of the ambulance and there was nowhere to run.”

The attack happened around midnight on Days Road, Coomera, after Mr Johnson and paramedic partner Belinda Donkers, 32, responded to reports of a man unconscious in his car.

Ms Donkers said they were taking the patient to Gold Coast University Hospital when he became ‘quite agitated’.

Bashed paramedic Brad Johnson soon after the attack at the hands of a patient.

Bashed paramedic Brad Johnson today.

“He got super-aggressive really quickly and then turned violent,” she said. She pulled over as the man began attacking Mr Johnson and trying to jump out of the moving ambulance.

“I opened the side door and yelled not very nice words at him to get off my partner,” she said.

The man leapt out and also tried to attack Ms Donkers before running down the road. Police were called and the man was arrested and charged with common assault and serious assault of a public officer.

Mr Johnson was treated at hospital and was today recovering at home with his relieved wife and son.

“I’ve got seven stitches and some pretty bad bruising but it could have been so much worse,” he said.

“I could have lost an eye or suffered permanent brain damage. It could also so easily have been Belinda with him in the back of the ambulance.

“I’m of the opinion that whoever went to that job last night was going to get assaulted.”

Mr Johnson said it was his worst attack in 15 years as an ambulance officer.

“We’re here to help you - don’t bash ambos,” he said.

Queensland Ambulance Service senior operations supervisor Paul Young said attacks on paramedics were on the rise amid increasing drug and alcohol-fuelled violence, especially as a result of the ‘ice’ epidemic.

“Paramedics are out there saving lives - they certainly don’t deserve to be assaulted for their troubles,” he said.

EARLIER: A PARAMEDIC was allegedly struck in the face while attempting to treat a man on the Gold Coast overnight.

The male officer was treated in hospital for an eye injury following the incident in Upper Coomera, which happened just after midnight.

He had attended an address on Days Rd to help a man who was reportedly lying unconscious on the road when he was allegedly assaulted.

Sickening attack on QAS officer Brad Johnson at Coomera overnight details @9NewsBrisbane pic.twitter.com/EOe0ws58NY

— Samantha Heathwood (@samheathwood) December 12, 2015

“The paramedic was subsequently assaulted after the man became agitated when he was placed in the back of the ambulance,” police said.

“(The officer) sustained injuries to the left side of his face and was taken to Pindara Hospital for treatment.”

The offender will appear in Southport Magistrates Court on Monday charged with common assault and serious assault of a public officer.