TWO ambulancemen were attacked by a gang of youths as they attended to an unconscious teenager.

Paramedic Andy Hartley, 28, suffered a fractured nose and was hit over the head with a bottle as he tended the youth lying on the ground outside Furnace Green Community Centre, Crawley, on Saturday night.

Ambulance technician Dave Lovett, 34, went to his aid and was punched and kicked by the eight youths.

The two crewmen, from Crawley Ambulance Station, pressed panic buttons on their belts and the youths fled before police arrived.

Mr Hartley was

driven to Crawley Hospital in his own ambulance by his crewmate where they both received treatment.

Another ambulance crew dealt with the unconscious youth, who had passed out after drinking too much.

Crawley lead paramedic, David Hill said today staff were disgusted by the attack.

He said: "We wear distinctive green uniforms with Ambulance written all over them. Anyone who attacked the ambulancemen fully knew what they were doing.

"I can't explain it. The only answer must be they were drunk or on drugs."

He said his two colleagues were called to treat the unconscious youth at 9.40pm after receiving an emergency call.

He said: "The paramedic was bending down over the youth when he was punched in the face. As he fell over, he was kicked in the head.

"Seven or eight youths pounced on him and he was hit over the back of the head with a bottle.

"At this point the other crew member tried to pull the youths off but he was also punched and kicked."

He said Mr Hartley suffered a fractured nose and injuries to his face and head and the technician was bruised on his head and body. Both men were on sick leave.

He said: "They are both very upset about what has happened. Everyone in the station is upset. When you attend an incident, the last thing you expect is to be attacked. You are there to help

people. We are all disgusted by this incident. It beggars belief."

Mr Hill said it had been a particularly

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