A group of people who attacked NSW police and paramedics with rocks and verbal abuse as they tried to assist a man whose legs were severed by a freight train yesterday could face criminal charges, police say.
The group is believed to be the friends and family of the 18-year-old man who was struck by the train in the early hours of Sunday morning while celebrating his 18th birthday near Taree in northern NSW.
But police inspector Christine George said there was "no excuse" for the group's response when emergency services were trying to assist the injured man before they were forced to barricade themselves in the driver's cabin of the train.
Six police officers arrived at the scene at the Bushland Drive railway crossing after 4.30am (AEDT) to find the man trapped beneath the train while he bled severely and went in and out of consciousness.
An angry crowd gathered and began to hurl rocks at the police and the train driver — a 33-year-old Queensland man — forcing them all to take refuge in the driver's compartment as they waited for reinforcements to arrive from Foster.
Paramedics arrived to have their windshield smashed by missiles before they were "blocked, pushed and verbally abused" by the crowd as they tried to help the man beneath the train, police said.
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The 'usual suspects' from the Taree/Purfleet area. One of the rioters who attacked the paramedics was the kid's father. I hope they are all charged.
