In a deeply concerning incident, St John Ambulance PNG reports that an ambulance was targeted in a shooting incident while responding to an emergency in Lae in the early hours of yesterday morning.
The incident occurred around 1am near to the Bumayong Kaisa bus stop while the ambulance crew were transporting a woman in labour to Angau Hospital.
The ambulance officers faced a dangerous situation when a group of men at the bus stop wielded a firearm towards them. Quick-thinking and focused on their duty, the ambulance continued its journey without stopping, narrowly dodging the potentially lethal bullet.
Momase Regional Ambulance Commander Anderson Poumb expressed that such incident raised much concern.
“This incident is a grave concern for us, as it could have had severe consequences for both our dedicated ambulance crew and the patient”.
He further highlighted that while there have been recent instances of attacks on ambulances, this marks the first involving a firearm. Poumb urged community leaders to take immediate action, emphasising the importance of educating youths on the critical role played by ambulance service.
“The Lae ambulance service is a vital lifeline for people of Lae city and the surrounding areas, but incidents like this attack on our officers raise serious concerns.” He said.
“Our dedicated ambulance officers are left traumatised by such events,” Poumb added.
The ambulance service is committed to the safety of its personnel and the communities they serve.
Poumb expressed concern about the challenges faced by ambulance crews when responding to emergencies during the night and called for increased vigilance and support from the community.
“This incident again highlights the dangers our ambulance officers face bringing help to others at all hours of the day and night.” He elaborated.
Poumb stressed the need for proper legislation to protect ambulance officers.
Following the incident, the ambulance officers successfully delivered the woman to Angau Hospital, after which they promptly reported the incident to the police.
