Cyclist hit by Bristol ambulance on 999 call
It happened at 8.30am at the junction of Tower Hill and Narrow Plain today.
The ambulance had just left a Great Western Ambulance Service station in Tower Hill with blue lights flashing.
It was on its way to the home of an elderly man who had fallen.
Eye witnesses said the cyclist pulled out in front of the vehicle and was knocked off his bike.
He was treated at the scene by paramedics.
A second ambulance from the nearby ambulance station took him to the Bristol Royal Infirmary.
Another crew was sent to take the elderly man, who had fallen at home, to hospital.
The cyclist was conscious when he was taken to hospital. He suffered a shoulder injury.
An off-duty police officer on a motorbike and another officer in a car who was on his way to work, stopped at the scene to help.
A woman in her 40s from Portishead saw what happened.
The witness, who did not wish to be named, said: “The cyclist pulled out in front of the ambulance.
“The lights on the ambulance were flashing but the cyclist pulled out in front of him.
“There were two ambulances. They both stopped and the paramedics went to help him.”
A police officer who took statements from witnesses at the scene said: “When I arrived one officer was at the scene.
“First and foremost our concern was the safety and welfare of the casualty.
“Two paramedics and my colleague were dealing with the casualty who was conscious.
“His injuries are not believed to be life-threatening.”
An investigation is underway into the accident.
Great Western Ambulance Service spokesman John Oliver said the ambulance had been on its way to the home of an elderly man when the accident happened.
He said: “ A paramedic was already on scene with him and treating him, so this was a back-up ambulance to transport him to hospital. A second vehicle was immediately dispatched and this arrived at the initial incident at 8.36am and took the patent to BRI.
“The cyclist was taken to BRI by another ambulance.
“Whenever GWAS staff or vehicles are involved in an incident, there are thorough procedures in place to carry out an internal investigation.”
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