Tag: west midlands ambulance

Words by Ed King / Pics by Estelle Murphy

A man who was stabbed on Short Heath Road yesterday suffered ‘serious but not life-threatening’ injuries, emergency services have confirmed.

The victim, who has identified as 20 years old, was treated at the scene after the alarm was raised at around 5pm on Tuesday 3 July – following an attack that saw ‘injuries to his chest and arm.’

Centred around the Lifestyle Express newsagent on Short Heath Road, West Midlands Ambulance Service was called to an incident at 5.09pm – with the first ambulance arriving at the scene in only three minutes.

An unconfirmed post on Erdington Local’s social media, following our initial report of the attack, suggests the young man went into the popular convenience store seeking help after being stabbed on the street – with staff administering first aid and alerting the emergency services.

West Midlands Ambulence Service further told a second ambulance, a paramedic officer, the West Midlands Care Team, a MERIT trauma doctor, and critical care paramedic also attended – with witnesses seeing police cordon off the entrance to Short Heath Road from Station Road.

Witnesses to the response further say they saw ambulance crew attending to the victim for around 20 minutes before taking him away from the scene, presumably to hospital for further care.

A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokeswoman told: “On arrival, crews found a man with serious injuries.

“Ambulance staff immediately began administering advanced trauma care before he was conveyed to hospital for further treatment.”

A spokesperson from West Midlands Police added: “We’re investigating after a man was found with stab injuries in Short Heath Road, Erdington, at around 5pm yesterday (Tues).

“Officers attended and the 20-year-old was being treated by paramedics for injuries to his chest and arm. He was taken to hospital and is understood to be in a serious but not life-threatening condition.

“Neighbourhood teams are patrolling in the area to offer reassurance to residents. Anyone with information can contact investigators via Live Chat on our website or call 101, quoting crime reference number 20/576105/23.”

Following the first reports of the attack by Erdington Local, many people took to social media to lament the rise in knife crime over recent years – alongside a stripped back and arguably underfunded local police force.

However, others were also quick to recognise the issue as a citywide concern.

Words by Ed King & Estelle Murphy / Pics & video by Estelle Murphy

Police shut off Short Heath Road this afternoon, following reports of a stabbing at the Lifestyle Express newsagent – next to the Facethetics beauty salon and just opposite The Red Lion Pub.

Full details of the incident are yet to be confirmed by emergency services, although Erdington Local had a reporter at the scene talking to the many local residents who were witnessing events.

Rush hour traffic was brought to a standstill after emergency services attended the scene at around 5pm, with hundreds of commuters forced to take alternative routes following a police cordon blocking the entrance to Short Heath Road from Station Road.

Pictures taken from the scene show at least four marked police cars and one ambulance in attendance, as blue police tape is extended to block off the busy thoroughfare.

Witnesses at the scene further told they saw police dog vans, a Critical Care Team vehicle, and an armed response unit also attend.

One eyewitness told Erdington Local: “I think it happened at around 5pm, I saw them (emergency services) working on a young man, possibly in his early twenties, for about 20 minutes before the took him away. I’m pretty sure he was stabbed, possibly by a machete.”

Another explained: “I was driving home, down Station Road, and the traffic was almost gridlock. Then I saw all the flashing lights and eventually the police tape.

“It’s just a regular afternoon, a Monday. You don’t expect to literally run into a crime scene on your way back from work.”

Police at the scene were not able to confirm or deny any information. Erdington Local has contacted the emergency services involved for more information or an official public statement.