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Medical kit worth £3,000 stolen from volunteer

Dan HuntEast Midlands
News imageBBC Bar on the Strand which curves to the leftBBC
Jamie Brown had been attending an incident on The Strand on Sunday

A community first responder has spoken of his shock after medical equipment worth more than £3,000 was stolen while he was attending to an incident in Derby city centre.

Jamie Brown, a volunteer for Hatton and District Community First Responders, said he had been supporting an ambulance crew in The Strand at about 04:00 GMT on Sunday when the bag of equipment, including a defibrillator, was taken from his car.

The 20-year-old told the BBC it had left him out of action while he waits for East Midlands Ambulance Service (EMAS) to provide him with replacement items.

"It's catastrophic in all honesty. There is no contingency as such for things like this," he said.

"It's left me out of action whilst EMAS are sorting a new bag, which is really good of them."

News imageHatton and District Community First Responders A blue bag sat on the floor by a tableHatton and District Community First Responders
A bag containing medical equipment was taken from Jamie Brown's car

Brown said the ambulance service would be loaning him a new bag, while Hatton and District Community First Responders raise funds for new equipment.

Community first responders are volunteers who attend 999 emergency calls in their own local area.

In the East Midlands, community first responders are dispatched by the emergency operations centre in the same way as an ambulance.

If they arrive first on scene, community first responders can provide assessment and treatment for the patient before the arrival of an ambulance.

David McMylor, emergency operations manager for community response at East Midlands Ambulance Service said the "mindless theft" had left the community responder scheme without "vital" equipment.

"The perpetrator clearly did not consider the impact their actions would have on the very community they live in.

"We are supporting the Hatton and District Community First Responder scheme while the police carry out their investigation."

Derbyshire Police said it had received a report of a theft of a bag belonging to a first responder at East Midlands Ambulance Service and inquiries were ongoing.

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