A 25-year-old man who allegedly smashed an ambulance windscreen with his head is in a coma and unable to respond to charges laid by police.
The Kalgoorlie Magistrates’ Court heard the man was in the intensive care unit of Fiona Stanley Hospital in a “serious condition”.
He is facing three charges from Sunday’s incident, including criminal damage, endangering the life, health or safety of a person and obscene acts in public.
Aboriginal Legal Service of WA lawyer David Pawson told the court the man was “in a coma” and unfit to attend court.
“If we could adjourn in the hope that he does come to and instructions can be taken,” he asked Magistrate William Yoo.
Magistrate Yoo did not consider bail and the matter was adjourned to Thursday, December 11, where it was listed for a mention.
The windscreen of the smashed ambulance. (ABC Goldfields: Macey Turner)
Ambulance report to ‘injured man’
St John Ambulance is reviewing the circumstances surrounding Sunday’s incident, which it described as “unacceptable and deeply distressing” for its crews.
Video of the incident, circulated on social media, appears to show the naked male clinging onto the bonnet of a moving ambulance van and repeatedly smashing his head into the windscreen, causing it to break.
St John WA said they were initially called to respond to reports of an injured man on Piesse Street in Boulder at 10:37am.
The organisation said a patient transport crew were allegedly attacked while coming to the aid of their colleagues.
In a statement, St John WA said its priority now was supporting its crew.
“Our priority is ensuring every support is provided to them, including immediate wellbeing assistance,” they said.
“We are relieved no-one was physically injured, but incidents like this leave a lasting emotional impact, and we stand firmly with our people.
“Violence against our crews is violence against the whole community.”
The organisation said it was working closely with WA Police to understand the circumstances of Sunday’s incident.
In a statement, WA police said officers attended the scene to assist St John at about 11:15am.
The incident occurred on Piesse Street in Boulder. (ABC Goldfields: Macey Turner)
Police had ‘busy day’
Commander Rod Wilde, from North Regional police, told ABC Perth Mornings program that WA police had apologised for the wait time.
“We apologise to St John’s ambulance; it did take us 22 minutes to get there from the time that the initial call came for assistance from them,” he said.
WA Police Regional Commander Rod Wilde has apologised to St John WA. (ABC News: David Weber)
Commander Wilde said it was a “very busy” day in the Goldfields for police, who were attending the St Barbara’s parade and several other high-priority events at the time.
“Of course, we would like to have been there earlier … the police work very closely, very closely with St John ambulance, not only in Kalgoorlie but across the state, so we attempt to get there as soon as possible,” he said.
Commander Wilde said the charged man was “known to police”, and mental health issues were not being ruled out.
“Obviously, we suggest perhaps mental health issues and other issues around that when someone [is] behaving in that nature,” he said.
Commander Wilde said WA Police would review the incident and decide whether more police should have been rostered on St Barbara’s Parade day in future to cover emergency incidents.