Man dies after paramedics attacked by ‘stupid’ family members in angry mob

A man has died after an angry mob of men – including his own family members – attacked paramedics as they tried to save his life, it has been claimed.

The Australian Paramedics Association have released a damning statement branding the family members “stupid” and “outrageous” after they joined up to 80 angry men outside the property in Riverwood in Sydney’s west on Sunday.

The 25-year-old man was suffering a suspected drug overdose at the time, the association explained, when the men attempted to intervene and reportedly ended up assaulting one of the paramedics.

“Paramedics were forced to fend off angry males who eventually forced them to stop treating the patient who was in cardiac arrest and subsequently died,” APA (NSW) Secretary Steve Pearce said.

“We had the outrageous situation where a violent mob demanded paramedics hand over a defibrillator and drugs, saying they would treat the patient.”

The angry men reportedly demanded a defibrillator and drugs to try to treat the man themselves, while the five paramedics were forced to barricade themselves inside the unit. Police were eventually called and around 20 officers – including some from the Police Rescue squad – are claimed to have attended the scene to release the paramedics.

Unfortunately, the patient had died by this point.

“This is outrageous behaviour by members of a family whose actions have most likely contributed to a death that may well have been avoidable,” Pearce added. 

“Paramedics are being subjected to this type of aggression all too often and it is time those who think it is acceptable to attack paramedics woke up to themselves.”

He added: “This just has to stop and we need more intervention by police much earlier to make sure our paramedics and our patients are safe. Those who think it is acceptable to stop paramedics while they are trying to save a life ought to consider the consequences of their actions.”

No arrests were made and police have since said the death is not being treated as suspicious.

Read more: Paramedics banned from ‘no-go zones’ without police escort after assaults

It comes after paramedics in Victoria were recently issued a list of “no-go zones” following a spate of horrific assaults while on duty – with some even needing a police escort before they’re allowed to treat patients.

Ambulance Victoria listed more than 200 addresses where they warned workers they could be risking their safety when on call in the area. Meanwhile, six more addresses were given extra precaution, and workers were told they would need a police escort before they’re allowed to enter homes there.

It comes after a series of shocking assaults in recent weeks, with one man still unable to work two years after he was attacked by two women who were recently spared jail over the incident. 

Do you think more needs to be done to stop attacks on paramedics?