A man in his forties attacked an ambulance driver who was trying to assist him as he was walking on the street naked on Tuesday evening.
An ambulance driver working for the fire and emergency medical aid service (SIAMU) in the Brussels-Capital Region was the victim of an assault by a man in his forties who was very confused and was walking naked on rue des Sept Etoiles in Berchem-Sainte-Agathe at around 21:00 on Tuesday evening.
"During the patient's treatment, he suddenly became aggressive and attacked one of the paramedics. The police intervened on the spot to subdue the man and transfer him to the police station," Brussels fire brigade spokesman Walter Derieuw said in a statement on Wednesday.
The ambulance driver was hospitalised after suffering haematomas (bruising that forms when an injury causes blood to collect and pool under the skin) and a mouth injury requiring five stitches. Derieux confirmed that the ambulance driver is now unable to work.
"Our firefighter has lodged a complaint. The management of the fire brigade will also file a complaint and, if necessary, will act as a civil party. Moral and psychological support is being offered to our agent," he concluded.
At the end of October, the SLFP trade union announced that it was lodging a new strike warning for SIAMU after ambulance staff were attacked in Saint-Josse-ten-Noode, adding that the authorities are not doing enough to ensure the protection of first-aiders here.
The union is also concerned about the arrangements that will be put in place to protect staff during the festive season. In particular, the last New Year weekend saw paramedics, doctors, nurses, police officers and firefighters targeted while on duty.
