Two Ambulance Victoria paramedics were allegedly assaulted in a daylight incident on Mornington’s Main Street on Saturday, prompting strong condemnation from emergency services and the Victorian Ambulance Union.
Ambulance Victoria confirmed the paramedics were set upon while in the township late morning. One was taken to hospital for assessment after reportedly being kicked in the stomach and falling to the ground.
Bystanders are understood to have intervened to help the paramedics until police arrived.
Victoria Police arrested a 58-year-old Seaford man nearby in Mornington Park. He was allegedly carrying a weapon and making threats at the time. The man has since been charged with multiple offences, including assaulting an emergency worker, recklessly causing injury, making threats to kill, possession of a controlled weapon and unlawful assault.
Ambulance Victoria acting regional operations director Michael Georgiou described the attack as unacceptable and praised members of the public for stepping in.
Victorian Ambulance Union Secretary Danny Hill said assaults on paramedics were “disgusting on every level”, noting that emergency workers are attacked in Victoria at a rate of about once every 50 hours.
Under Victorian law, injuring an emergency worker is a Category 1 offence carrying a mandatory minimum six-month jail term.
Police confirmed investigations into the incident are continuing.
