Paramedic: I was forced to let cop die

2 June 2010, 07:11
By Graeme Hosken
Crime Reporter - Pretoria News

An off-duty Pretoria policeman with 19 years of experience died, allegedly because a colleague refused to allow a paramedic to try save his life.

This is according to the paramedic, who qualified on Friday as a basic ambulance assistant (BAA).

BAAs are qualified to perform CPR, treat wounds and fractures and provide medical attention to a patient until either an intermediate or advanced life support paramedic arrives on the scene or the patient is transported to hospital.

Monday night's death of Warrant Officer Andries Minnaar - who was stationed at the Pretoria Central police station - and his colleague's apparent intervention has led to a high-level police investigation.

Minnaar was found slumped in his car outside the Sars offices in Schoeman Street.

Security guards on duty noticed him and immediately alerted police and paramedics.

The paramedic, who wishes to remain anonymous, raced to the scene.

Arriving within five minutes of the call, the paramedic opened Minnaar's car door and searched for a pulse.

Unable to find one but realising that Minnaar's body was still warm, the paramedic, along with a colleague, tried to remove him from the car and begin CPR.

As they removed Minnaar from his car, both were allegedly stopped by a policeman, who they claim told them that they were interfering with a crime scene.

"When I told the policeman that I was a qualified paramedic and that the man needed medical help, he told me if I didn't stop, he would have me removed from the scene.

"I couldn't believe it. I telephoned another ambulance service, who alerted the Tshwane Emergency Service who in turn dispatched an advanced life support paramedic.

"When the other paramedic arrived, which was about 10 minutes later, we convinced the policeman to allow us to begin CPR which we did for about 45 minutes, but by then it was too late.

"I am convinced if we had been allowed to perform CPR when we got to the scene, the policeman could still be alive," she said.

The paramedic's trainer, Warrant Officer George de Ridder, who is stationed at the Pretoria flying squad, said he certified the paramedic as competent on Friday, after she successfully passed her final exams.

"Because she passed her exams, she was found to be competent to practise as a basic ambulance assistant.

"According to the paramedic protocol, a paramedic has to give a patient the benefit of the doubt and start CPR if the person has been found not breathing and without a pulse, but is still warm," he said.

Lifemed Ambulance Service head Hugo Minnaar said CPR had to be performed on someone in medical distress regardless of whether there was a crime scene or not.

"Saving a person's life is more important than protecting a crime scene," he said.

Martin Botha, Resuscitation Council chairman, said CPR, which could double a person's survival chances if given early enough, was the greatest chance of survival for someone in cardiac arrest.

He said no matter what the situation was anyone with medical training, including someone with basic first aid training, was obliged, under the constitution, to provide emergency medical care.

Minnaar's wife, Marietjie, said she prayed there had been some sort of mistake.

"If there was not then this will be very bad and I will be demanding answers," she said.

Police spokesperson Captain Tessa Jansen said the allegations would be investigated.