Air ambulance and 10 police officers called to machete attack hoax
An air ambulance, two ambulances and 10 police officers were called to false reports of a machete attack.
Emergency services rushed to the Handsworth area on Wednesday after reports that somebody had been seriously injured in disorder involving a machete.
But when they got there no injuries were found and an arrest has been made for wasting police time.
Murray MacGregor, spokesman for West Midlands Ambulance Service, said: "We were called to reports of a patient being attacked with a machete in the Handsworth area of Birmingham at just before 4.20pm on Wednesday afternoon.
"Due to the severity of the information in the call, two ambulances, a paramedic officer, the Midlands Air Ambulance Critical Care Car and the Midlands Air Ambulance from Cosford with a doctor on board were sent to the scene.
"On arrival, it was discovered that there was no patient and the call was a hoax.
"It is incredibly disappointing that anyone would think that it is ok to make such a 999 call. Sending resources to this incident meant that they were not available to respond to other potentially critically ill or injured patients, which could have put their life in danger."
West Midlands Ambulance Service posted on Facebook yesterday saying: "Very unimpressed. Earlier today we were called to reports of a disorder where machetes were involved and people had serious injuries.
"Along with 10 police officers, we sent two ambulances, the Midlands Air Ambulance Critical Care Car, a Midlands Air Ambulance with a doctor on board only to discover that it was a hoax! Why would someone do that?
"Our colleagues later informed us that one person is in custody for wasting police time. Still hugely frustrating."
"10 officers, two ambulances, one Helimed land crew and one helimed in the air. This was a hoax call. One in custody for wasting police time."
