AN off-duty paramedic who stopped to pick up takeaway after finishing her shift was allegedly slashed across the chest with a box cutter in a random attack at Rosebud, Friday night 13 July.
Detective Senior Sergeant Alan Paxton, of Mornington Peninsula CIU, said the woman, 46, was “putting the kids in the car” outside a shop in Point Nepean Road, Rosebud, when a man allegedly rode up on a bicycle, grabbed her from behind and assaulted her, 6.30pm. He then rode away.
“It all happened very quickly,” Detective Paxton said.
The woman was taken to Frankston Hospital where she received a “large number of stitches” to treat a 15 centimetre gash in her chest.
The paramedic said on 3AW she was “slowly getting over the trauma of the attack” and would take time off to recover. She said she had received solid support from co-workers as well as police and other emergency services workers.
While not drawing a link to her job and the recent spate of attacks on emergency services workers, she said she would not wear her uniform when driving home again in case it had “triggered” the attack.
Ambulance Victoria chief executive Tony Walker said the woman’s two children, aged four and six, witnessed the “absolutely abhorrent” attack from the back seat of the car.
“[It was] a horrendous assault on someone who has finished the day shift, had picked up the kids, was picking up some dinner… and she’s been assaulted by someone who we think we may have treated as a patient in the past,” he told 3AW.
A man, 47, of no fixed address – but who the paramedic said she may have assisted in her role previously – was being treated for injuries at Dandenong Hospital over the weekend. He was expected to be charged and further remanded over the incident later on Monday.
Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
First published in the Western Port News – 17 July 2018
