http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1281486/Teenage-yobs-attack-pilot-air-ambulance-called-help-scorched-baby.htmlTeenage yobs attack pilot of air ambulance after he was called out to help scorched baby
By Daily Mail Reporter
Last updated at 12:39 PM on 26th May 2010
An air ambulance was put out of operation for almost a day after two teenage yobs attacked its pilot when he was called to help an injured baby.
The pair, aged 17 and 19, turned on the pilot when he told them to stop swinging on the aircraft's tail fin and door. One grabbed him by the throat.
As a result, the baby had to be rushed to hospital in a road ambulance - increasing the journey time four-fold. The baby had sustained scalding injuries in an accident.
The incident happened when the Kent Air Ambulance, which is funded by charity donations, landed in a field near The Vine Cricket Ground in Sevenoaks, Kent, on Sunday afternoon.
Kent Police said a 19-year-old male was arrested on suspicion of criminal damage and public order offences, and a 17-year-old youth was arrested on suspicion of common assault and public order offences. Both were released on bail.
Because of the teenagers' interference with the helicopter, it had to be inspected by an engineer before being allowed to take off again and was out of service until 11am on Monday morning - 18 hours after the incident.
John Tickner, chief executive of Kent Air Ambulance Trust, said: 'I find it incredible that anybody would want to attack a charity air ambulance and its crew, whose sole purpose is to help seriously injured people in their time of need.
'It is completely unacceptable that any of our staff are subjected to an assault and we will always fully support the police in any further action.'
The Kent Air Ambulance Trust is a registered charity, established in 1989. It has a highly skilled team of doctors and critical care paramedics who are able to reach the scene of an accident or medical emergency within minutes.
The helicopter can reach speeds of up to 150mph and can get to most emergency locations in Kent within 15 minutes of being called. It is one of 18 independent air ambulance operators in Britain.
