HOGE
28th Oct 2009, 08:14
Air ambulance crew attacked at rave - EDP24 (http://www.edp24.co.uk/content/edp24/news/story.aspx?brand=EDPOnline&category=News&tBrand=EDPOnline&tCategory=xDefault&itemid=NOED27%20Oct%202009%2016%3A45%3A01%3A473)
The East of England Air Ambulance crew and their helicopter were pelted with cans and bottles as they tried to help an injured person at a rave near Thetford.
More than 150 vehicles were stopped and a number of arrests made at the Feltwell Site on Sunday afternoon. During the rave a person was treated for a serious leg injury and the air ambulance was called.
Managing director Simon Gray, for the East Anglian Air Ambulance, which has two helicopters, said he was horrified by the action of the revellers.
“Our crews are dedicated to saving lives so it's inexplicable to us that they would be threatened in this way,” he said.
“Equally, the aircraft is funded purely by the hard work of the charity's many supporters, who work tirelessly so that it we can keep it flying.
“Our pilot remonstrated with some of those throwing bottles and fortunately none of the crew was harmed and the aircraft was not damaged. The outcome could all too easily have been very different.”
An initial rave on Saturday night at nearby Bodney had been broken up by police, with organisers and attendees moving on to the second site.
Officers made several arrests and seized equipment at the rave, which was attended by about 500 people.
Kings Lynn and West Norfolk Superintendent Nick Davison added: “Not only was the safety of ambulance staff put at risk, but the fact that the helicopter was targeted is very worrying.
“Had the air ambulance been damaged, then a vital resource for the whole of East Anglia could have been lost.
“Norfolk Police has a zero tolerance approach to raves in the county and we use all necessary resources to prevent, disrupt and close down illegal raves.
“These events are unsafe and disruptive to our local communities and we will continue to take a hard line against them."
The East of England Air Ambulance crew and their helicopter were pelted with cans and bottles as they tried to help an injured person at a rave near Thetford.
More than 150 vehicles were stopped and a number of arrests made at the Feltwell Site on Sunday afternoon. During the rave a person was treated for a serious leg injury and the air ambulance was called.
Managing director Simon Gray, for the East Anglian Air Ambulance, which has two helicopters, said he was horrified by the action of the revellers.
“Our crews are dedicated to saving lives so it's inexplicable to us that they would be threatened in this way,” he said.
“Equally, the aircraft is funded purely by the hard work of the charity's many supporters, who work tirelessly so that it we can keep it flying.
“Our pilot remonstrated with some of those throwing bottles and fortunately none of the crew was harmed and the aircraft was not damaged. The outcome could all too easily have been very different.”
An initial rave on Saturday night at nearby Bodney had been broken up by police, with organisers and attendees moving on to the second site.
Officers made several arrests and seized equipment at the rave, which was attended by about 500 people.
Kings Lynn and West Norfolk Superintendent Nick Davison added: “Not only was the safety of ambulance staff put at risk, but the fact that the helicopter was targeted is very worrying.
“Had the air ambulance been damaged, then a vital resource for the whole of East Anglia could have been lost.
“Norfolk Police has a zero tolerance approach to raves in the county and we use all necessary resources to prevent, disrupt and close down illegal raves.
“These events are unsafe and disruptive to our local communities and we will continue to take a hard line against them."