Photo: St John
A man has been charged with kidnapping after stealing an ambulance with a police officer and paramedic onboard in Invercargill.
The ordeal happened after police were called to assist an ambulance crew dealing with an "agitated person" on Elles Road at 2.25am on Monday, police said.
"While a police officer and an ambulance officer were speaking with a man in the back of the ambulance, he jumped into the driver's seat of the ambulance and allegedly began driving," a police spokesperson said.
The ambulance travelled for about a block before the police officer was able to stop it.
A 20-year-old Invercargill man was taken into custody and charged with two counts of kidnapping, driving while suspended, unlawfully taking a motor vehicle, failing to stop and two counts of resisting police.
"Thankfully, nobody was hurt, but there was a risk of serious injury to the people in that ambulance, none of whom were restrained, and a serious risk to the public," acting Southland Area Commander Inspector Matt Scoles said.
An investigation into the kidnapping is ongoing.
