Cool-headed ambulance man drives alleged hijacker into trap

Photo / APN

A man will appear in court today after allegedly hijacking an ambulance only to be driven into a trap by a cool-headed officer who used special radio codes to secretly alert police.

St John have praised the ambulance officer for defusing a potentially explosive situation, which unfolded as the officer responded to a call from a 25-year-old patient "suffering chest pains" shortly before 4am yesterday.

As the ambulance officer approached the address near Taupo, he was flagged down by a "very agitated" man, who forced his way into the front passenger seat of the ambulance, Lakes St John acting operations manager Steve Lynch said.

The man allegedly demanded the officer drive him to Rotorua Hospital.

The officer, fearing for his safety, began driving toward Taupo on SH1.

"He managed to ... lead the guy to believe he was doing everything he had asked him to do. He didn't aggravate the situation and was even able to calm the guy somewhat," Mr Lynch said.

The officer meanwhile used radio codes to tell the St John's centre he was in danger of physical harm - sparking an emergency response. A trap was quickly set at the lakeside settlement of Hatepe, about 24km south of Taupo.

"We were able to have another vehicle at the side of the road, and the officer managed to quickly jump out and into that vehicle, which then left the scene. That left the offender stranded in the ambulance at the side of the road," said Mr Lynch.

Police arrested the man without any incident for outstanding warrants to arrest. The Turangi man is to appear in the Rotorua District Court today.

Although unharmed, the ambulance officer was left "very distressed and shaken up", Mr Lynch said.

The officer, who works full-time and has been in the role for several years, has been offered counselling but is expected to return to work this week after having his rostered days off.

Mr Lynch said many St John ambulances were single-crewed and often responded to late-night calls in good faith. "It's disgusting, really, that people think they can do this to emergency services."

St John officers have been increasingly assaulted over recent years. Statistics released to the Herald showed 38 cases were reported in the financial year to last month.

Spokeswoman Sarah Martin put the increase down to binge drinking, drugs such as methamphetamine, improved reporting, "unreal" expectations based upon movies and a "societal change" where people were more likely to assault officers now.