Emergency paramedics are generally the first personnel on the scene when an incident requiring medical attention occurs – yet their lives are increasingly at risk and some are starting to question just why it is they are doing it.

Since the beginning of the year there have been 45 attacks on paramedics in the Western Cape, and this past weekend saw four of them.

The latest cases involves two paramedics ambushed in Paarl, East following similar attacks in Harare and Parow.

After paramedics responded to a stabbing incident in Paarl East on Saturday, they were accosted by a knife-wielding gang. According to Western Cape Ambulance chief Phumzile Papu, the vehicle was also damaged:

Some of them then stood in front of the ambulance, some of them were hanging on the side of the ambulance. He drove about more than 300m, the other guy was still hanging there shouting that this guy must stop this ambulance. It looks like it is the same people that stabbed him that were coming for him again.

No arrests have been made.

EWN caught up with two paramedics to find out just why they continue to risk their lives, even when they have both witnessed incidents of assault.

[source:ewn]