Stag party locked paramedics inside ambulance and ran off with keys

The ambulance crew shortly after being released

 (Picture: SWNS)

A stag party has been accused of putting lives at risk by stealing keys from an ambulance and locking the paramedics inside.

The ambulance was parked outside a pub in Barnstaple, Devon, on Friday night when it was targeted by the all-male party dressed in yellow.
The drunken revellers then snapped the keys putting the vehicle out of action and unable to attend emergencies for the rest of the evening.

South Western Ambulance Service spokesman Melanie Glanville slammed the group’s actions as ‘mindless’ and says their stupidity put potential patients at risk.

She said: ‘We weren’t attending an emergency, we were just parked outside the Panniers pub.
‘Some men, thought to be on a stag do that had been in the pub, stole the vehicle’s keys, locked the crew inside and then broke the keys.

Police are now investigating the incident (Picture: SWNS)

‘The crew were unable to attend any other emergencies. Our vehicle was unusable because the keys were broken.

‘This took the crew out of action for the evening.
‘This one mindless act had a substantial effect for quite some time, for other patients who might have needed our help.’

Witness Donna Dean took several pictures as she sat down for a meal in the Panniers Pub.
She said: ‘I didn’t see them snap the keys but I was was told by bar staff that a group of men dressed in yellow, who appeared to be on a party night out, had stolen them.’

Police had been monitoring the incident on the town’s CCTV, and sent several units to the scene.
The incident is still under investigation.