Gold Coast paramedic punched 60 times by patient turned attacker
A Gold Coast paramedic has been badly bashed in the back of his ambulance while treating a drug affected patient on the way to hospital.
Brad Johnson was punched dozens of times around his head and he is now nursing a black eye and tissue damage to his face and body.
He is speaking out hoping to stop what paramedics are calling a sickening trend.
Mr Johnson was on his last job before clocking off for Christmas holidays when a patient gave him a brutal bashing.
"He's initially hit me five times. I was stunned."
Mr Johnson was helpless, trapped in the back of the ambulance and the patient turned attacker struck him 60 times.
"I was so lucky I didn't take a severe blow to the temple, or loose an eye or fracture a jaw. It could've so easily been much worse."
Mr Johnson and partner Belinda Donkers were treating the man from a suspected drug overdose at Upper Coomera.
They can't understand how offering aid led them to be attacked.
"Every time I move my arms it hurts."
Ms Donkers told 7 News: "We're there to help people. It's not very good we get bashed up at work."
Now the paramedic of 15 years is nursing his own injuries and questioning whether to continue.
Mr Johnson said: "At one stage he said I'm going to kill you."
Mr Johnson's wife Kym told 7 News: "He's hurt. He goes to work to do a job to help people and this just shouldn't happen, shouldn't happen."
The Queensland Ambulance Service says violent attacks on paramedics are on the rise.
Senior officers say the solution is changing attitudes rather than more combat training, or arming their staff.
Paul Young from Queensland Ambulance Services added: "We're out there to help other humans. And when humans turn on us it's not a really good outcome."
Even after being bashed Mr Johnson followed the attacker as he walked along the road to make sure the man stayed safe.
A 25-year-old been charged with the serious assault of a public officer.
"Just don't do it, there are no winners in this situation. The ambulance gets taken off the road, we get hurt and he gets charged."
