@WMASTStarkeyParamedics were shocked to find a homeowner had left a selfish note on the windscreen of an ambulance, while paramedics desperately worked to save a critically ill man.
As Birmingham paramedics worked to try and save the life of a man who was vomiting blood, one of his neighbours was more concerned with the parking placement of the ambulance, outside their home in Small Heath, Birmingham.
Since, it has been announced the man sadly lost his life and the note-writer, identified as 27-year-old Hassan Shabbir, has now expressed ‘deep shame’ over his actions.
SWNSThe message, written all in capitals was shared by paramedic Tasha Starkey, reading:
You may be saving lives, but don’t park your van in a stupid place and block my drive.
Outraged paramedics have since responded to the selfish message, explaining patients’ health always comes first, over the convenience of neighbour.
Obviously.
@WMASTStarkey / TwitterSince the note went viral, Shabbir said:
I’m ashamed that I did what I did, deeply ashamed. My heart goes out to the man that passed away.
There’s no justification, there is no explanation, there is nothing that I can say to justify my actions.
I would like to apologise for any offence that I have caused to the family members of the man who passed away. I’m deeply sorry.
I’ve just been to the mosque after work and have sought forgiveness from God. All I can say is that something like this will never happen again. It was wrong on every level.
Crew alerted an extremely poorly patient to hospital… minimal on scene time, arrived at hospital to find this note… this patient was TIME-CRITCAL. ??? @OFFICIALWMAS pic.twitter.com/uGGAC2TUpI
— Tasha Starkey (@WMASTStarkey) November 10, 2017
He explained:
It was a heat of the moment thing. I had an appointment to get to. I’m not going to try to justify it. I realise the good work the NHS do. I’m someone that suffers with a lifelong disability.
I rely on the NHS. I can’t clench my fist. I was born with a congenital disability. I know the truly amazing work the NHS does. I’ve had reconstructive surgery on both my arms.
Words cannot express how wonderful the NHS staff are. Like I said it was a foolish mistake and if I could take it back I would, regardless of whether he died or survived.
One of our crews encountered this delightful note after assisting a patient suffering a major internal bleed!
The crew were not on scene long due to how poorly the patient was.
We always try to park appropriately but sometimes it it not possible. pic.twitter.com/2eVC2CY04k— Sam Grimson (@wmassamgrimson) November 10, 2017
The school teacher, after a public outcry, continued:
What else do you want me to say? We’ve all done silly things. I work in a school. I teach the children to respect the NHS.
I’ve done what I’ve done and have expressed my deep regret. It was a foolish mistake. The action that I did was monstrous but I’m not a monstrous person. I regret my actions wholeheartedly.
The reason I did it was silly. I don’t want to try to justify what I did, but we have huge problems with parking round here.
Sometimes we just don't know what to say. This was the note left on an ambulance today. At the time, the crew were helping a man who was extremely unwell after vomiting blood. They took him on blue lights to hospital where he was in a critical condition. #patientscomefirst ??? pic.twitter.com/RwCCVmZgrA
— WMAS (@OFFICIALWMAS) November 10, 2017
Shabbir concluded:
It’s a massive issue. We have an alleyway and shared access for five or six properties. I’ve been stung by this a number of times, including when my wife was pregnant with our first child.
We had to rush to the hospital and had cars blocking us. I’ve woken up to go to work and been blocked in. That’s not a justification though. I now know the man was in a critical condition and needed care.
John Hagans, manager of Livingstone House rehab facility, where the man died, said the 42-year-old victim’s family were furious.
SWNSHe said:
They are absolutely horrified. They said it’s hard enough as it is, with the loss. The man’s father said to me that it has just made it 50 times worse. It really does beggar belief.
I am absolutely disgusted that an individual complained about the ambulance’s parking. An ambulance is a sacred space. What goes on inside there, it shouldn’t be interfered with.
One of these days, heaven forbid that the man who left the note or his family might need an ambulance. It’s the mentality of some people – no public spirit, no empathy and no feeling.
It’s all about them.
SWNSShabbir, a married teacher, lives three doors away from the rehab centre, where the now deceased patient was being treated with his wife, children and parents.
Heart of England NHS Foundation Trust confirmed the victim died after going into cardiac arrest.
A former emo kid who talks too much about 8Chan meme culture, the Kardashian Klan, and how her smartphone is probably killing her. Francesca is a Cardiff University Journalism Masters grad who has done words for BBC, ELLE, The Debrief, DAZED, an art magazine you’ve never heard of and a feminist zine which never went to print.