A paramedic today hit out at thieves who raided an ambulance while staff were on an emergency call.

They jumped into the back of the ambulance while paramedics were helping a woman with a broken leg.

They stole paramedic Joanne Clark's coat, which contained a personal organiser and a mobile telephone.

The personal organiser held a list of more than 60 guests and their telephone numbers for a family christening set for next month, as well as a wedding invitation list and a host of other personal details.

Fiance Jim Rivers said the christening would be a headache to organise without the guest list.

Jim, 52, of Chalvedon Avenue, Pitsea, said: "She doesn't really care about the mobile phone, she just wants the personal organiser back. It contained all her friends' telephone numbers as the christening list.

"The christening is going to be very difficult to organise without it. I would appeal for the person who has got it to return it to the casualty department of Basildon Hospital."

The raid happened on the Somercotes estate in Laindon.

The Thurrock crew did not have time to close the ambulance door before answering the call.

Mr Rivers said: "Whoever did it must be the lowest of the low. How can people steal from people who are helping others?"

It is the second time in a month an ambulance has been targeted by thieves.

A bag of life-saving medicine was recently stolen from an ambulance in Southend. An Essex Ambulance Service spokesman said ambulances may soon have to be locked up - putting patients' lives at risk.

She said: "Ambulances are left open when paramedics attend an emergency. That could put people's lives at risk because paramedics will be slowed down if they have to lock the doors each time."

Hitting out - paramedic Joanne Clark who had her coat stolen when thieves raided her ambulance

Picture: DAVE HENDERSON

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.