Patient caused ambulance crash after trying to hack off paramedic's ear with meat cleaver
A patient caused an ambulance to crash when he tried to hack off a paramedic’s ear with a meat cleaver.
Paul Searle yanked the emergency worker from the moving vehicle before grappling with him on the ground while wielding the blade, Portsmouth Crown Court was told.
Searle was eventually overpowered when a second paramedic leapt out to go to her colleague's aid.
He left the first paramedic with a cut hand, while the second had a lump on her head.
The 59-year-old was convicted of grievous bodily harm with intent after admitting attacking an emergency worker and was remanded in custody ahead of sentencing on 16 December.
The ambulance was called to Glenesha Gardens, Fareham, in the early hours of 11 February 2021 after Searle began to suffer breathing problems, Hampshire Police said.
"Despite the efforts of attending paramedics to help Searle, he became aggressive and verbally abusive to the point that the emergency workers left the address and returned to their vehicle," a force spokesman said.
"Shortly after, Searle approached the ambulance armed with a meat cleaver and pulled the driver out of the vehicle whilst threatening to cut his ear off.
"The ambulance was reversing at this time and ended up colliding with a parked car.
"The second paramedic, who had been in the passenger seat, then radioed for assistance and got out of the ambulance to find her colleague grappling on the pavement with Searle, before she assisted in restraining him.
"As a result of this incident, the ambulance driver suffered a cut to his hand from the meat cleaver which required stitches, while his colleague sustained a lump to her head."
