Fire Department Paramedic Seriously Injured in Ambulance Stabbing – Metro Philadelphia

A Philadelphia Fire Department paramedic was seriously injured Thursday morning in North Philadelphia when he was stabbed by a man in the back of an ambulance, authorities said.

The paramedic and his partner responded to a call just before 6:15 a.m. at 18th Street and Ridge Avenue, where they picked up the man with the intent of taking him to Temple University Hospital, according to investigators.

While driving, the driver heard a commotion in the back of the ambulance, opened the door and found his partner with stab wounds to his chest and hand, Deputy Police Commissioner Frank Vanore told reporters.

According to Vanore, the man ran but was captured by officers at 23rd Street and Diamond Street after a short chase. Police said they recovered a knife from the suspect, who has not been publicly identified.

Authorities said the paramedic was taken to Temple Hospital in critical condition, but his status has since been upgraded to serious. Fire Commissioner Jeffrey Thompson said he is “expected to make a full recovery.”

Thompson added that a two-person EMS team is standard procedure. Officials did not say what led doctors to grab the suspected stabber and try to take him to the hospital.

The attack came five days after a driver hit three nurses while dropping off a gunshot victim at Penn Presbyterian Medical Center in University City. A suspect in this case turned himself in to police on Wednesday.