BREAKING NEWS: Picketing firefighters injured after collision with car (From Your Local Guardian)

Picketing firefighters injured after collision with car in Croydon

4:14pm Monday 1st November 2010 in Top Stories By Mike Didymus

Tamer Ozdemir being treated by colleagues at the scene

A firefighter has been rushed to hospital with pelvic injuries after he was hit by a car while picketing outside Croydon fire station.

Tamer Ozdemir from Red Watch was treated by fellow firefighters on the scene after the incident, which happened in Old Town at about 3.18pm.

Another firefighter was treated for minor injuries.

Mick Shaw, president of the Fire Brigades Union (FBU), described the accident. He said: "A fire engine returned from an incident and drove into the fire station, its crew refusing to wind down their windows and talk to the pickets.

"It was followed by a car driven by the officers, and as the pickets tried to talk to the driver of the car, it accelerated suddenly and one of the striking firefighters was thrown up and into the windscreen.

"He has not moved since [25 minutes later] so I think he may well be seriously hurt. The ambulance is here and he is being lifted into it. The police have not let the driver out."

A spokesman from the London Fire Brigade said: "During demonstrations at Croydon fire station one person believed to be demonstrating has been injured after being hit by a car.

"London Ambulance was called at 3.20pm and a man has been taken to hospital with pelvic injuries.

"Due to a large number of protestors at the station and that incident, we have suspended the use of that station."

A spokeswoman for London Ambulance Service said: “We were called at 3.18pm to reports of a road traffic collision involving a car and a pedestrian.

“We sent an ambulance crew, a single responder and the air ambulance.

“Our staff treated on patient, a man reported to be in his 40s, for pelvic injuries.

“He was taken as a priority to St George’s Hospital in a ground ambulance.

“Another patient was treated at the scene for minor injuries but not taken to hospital.”

Did you see what happened, or capture any pictures or video? Call Mike Didymus on 020 8330 9556, or email mdidymus@london.newsquest.co.uk