A video capturing the moment a paramedic was pushed out the back of an ambulance by an abusive patient has been released by the London Ambulance Service (LAS)

The unnamed 30-year-old paramedic was shown hitting the ground and landing hard on his elbow after trying to help a patient.

The incident took place outside Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, in west London, earlier this year but LAS has now chosen to share the video.

Discussing the attack, the paramedic said: “It was very painful – so much so I thought I had broken my arm at first. There was such a sharp pain and then numbness.”

Watch the moment a London paramedic was pushed out of an ambulance

In the video, you can see the patient getting out of the ambulance and displaying no reaction as he walks past the paramedic who is still lying on the ground clutching his injured arm.

Police were already on the scene and promptly arrested the patient, who has since been convicted and ordered to pay the paramedic compensation.

The paramedic said: “I’m glad this went to court because it reminds people this an unacceptable way to treat us and needs to be stopped.

“We come to work to help people, not for this. I always wear a body-worn camera now and I make sure I’m never alone with some patients who I think might be a risk.”

LAS shared that before pushing the paramedic, the patient had verbally abused both members of the ambulance crew, and used homophobic language because both men had long hair.

The video footage was handed over to the police, which helped secure the patient’s conviction.

Recently LAS has invested more than £3 million in kitting out its ambulances with video cameras to help protect crews.

Chief Paramedic Dr John Martin said: “Our ambulance crews and call handlers come to work to help Londoners at times of need.

“It is one of the best jobs in the city but we cannot, and will not, accept violence or physical threat towards them.

“Working with our partners, we will do everything possible to keep them safe, including securing convictions where possible.”

Over the last year, more than 560 reports of physical assault on ambulance crews were made, with 38 successful prosecutions.

LAS has become one of the latest ambulance services across the country to launch a “Work Without Fear” campaign to promote a no-violence culture and help create a safer work environment for front-line staff and volunteers.