HEALTH chiefs have warned someone could be seriously hurt after three incidents of youths throwing missiles at ambulances this month.

On March 10, an ambulance was taken off the road after a bottle was thrown while it was en route to an emergency. The side window shattered covering the interior with broken glass and luckily there was no patient on board and no-one was hurt.

The incident, which happened at 9.20pm on the A6 in Stockport was reported to the police. The ambulance had to be taken off the road and a second vehicle was sent to the patient.

A fortnight later, the trust was shocked to learn that in West Derby, Liverpool, stones had been thrown at an ambulance carrying a sick child. The incident happened at 11.20pm and the stone went through an open window hitting the technician on the head while he was driving on blue lights. Bravely, he continued on his way to hospital where he was treated for a minor graze before being sent home, having to cut short his shift.

Only four days later on March 27, a group of youths threw stones at an ambulance on the A095 in Preston, Lancashire.

The ambulance was travelling on blue lights to a patient in a life-threatening condition and thankfully the damage was limited to a chip in the windscreen.

Despite being a minor incident, this kind of vandalism is turning into a dangerous trend which could have severe consequences for NWAS staff or patients.

Director of operations, Ged Blezard said: “I was absolutely lost for words when I heard of these incidents, particularly the case in Liverpool. Had this member of staff been hit harder or in the eye, we could have been dealing with a serious incident and possibly even the death of him, his colleague or the young child we were treating.

“I would like to ask those throwing the stones at ambulances – how can you be sure that ambulance isn’t travelling to save the life of someone you care about? How do you know that your mum, dad, grandparent or sibling isn’t in a life threatening situation and waiting desperately for that ambulance to arrive? You are delaying critical help to our patients, you are risking the lives of our staff and our patients. If the stone throwing results in serious injury or at worse, a death, you could find yourself in serious trouble and facing a lengthy prison sentence.”