'No one should be attacked for trying to help' - violent assault leaves paramedic unable to work for 15 months
03.06.26
A paramedic who was violently assaulted whilst on duty has returned to work after more than a year.
Yael Barker, who is based in Roath, was punched and kicked by a patient in the back of an ambulance outside Cardiff’s University Hospital of Wales last February.
The attack left the 42-year-old with a severe shoulder injury, including rotator cuff damage, swelling and tendonitis, which caused her shoulder to partially dislocate. She also suffered trapped nerves and is still receiving treatment.
The mother-of-two said: “It was frustrating more than upsetting.
“I worked hard to qualify as a paramedic, and it felt like all that effort and hardship had been taken away by someone else’s actions.”
Yael and her crewmates had just arrived at hospital when the attack unfolded. Recalling the incident, she said: “As we arrived, I explained to the patient that I was going to book her in to the hospital and then return.
“She suddenly sat bolt upright and punched me with the full force of her weight.
“I turned to the student sitting beside me and shouted at her to get out.
“The patient then kicked me twice in my left shoulder, once in the stomach and once on my forearm.
“Straight away, I felt a horrific shooting pain down my left arm and was winded.
“The patient then got off the ambulance and ran at two more of my colleagues, punching one and narrowly missing another.”
Yael was assessed at the hospital and given pain medication to manage the muscle and tissue swelling, but the injury has proved long-lasting.
“I’ve struggled to wash my hair, get dressed and even hug my children.
“It has improved with physiotherapy, steroid injections and pain medication, but I still need further treatment to heal.
“To this day, I am still having physio to aid with mobility and strengthening as my left shoulder is over 50% weaker than my right.
“I’m still having to take regular medication for pain and nerve pain.”
After a difficult 15 months, Yael is grateful to be able to return to the job she loves.
“The longer I was away, the more upset I became that I still wasn’t healed or back at work. It left me feeling very depressed and took a real toll on my mental health.
“Thanks to some amazing support from my locality managers and colleagues, I’ve recently returned to work.
“I cried happy tears putting my paramedic uniform back on and was even excited to wake up at 4am!
“Returning to the road is something I honestly thought I’d never do. I do feel like a ‘newbie’ all over again and I know it will take time to rebuild my confidence”.
“My colleagues and mangers are amazingly supportive so I know I will be looked after.”
Yael had this message for the public.
“When you call 999, it’s usually because you’re having the worst day of your life, but that’s not an excuse to lash out,” she said.
“Sometimes we’re physically injured, but often the impact is mental.
“I’ve lost count of the number of times a colleague or I have cried over something a patient or bystander has said or done.
“We chose this job to help people, so please think twice before taking your anger out on us for things beyond our control.”
At Cardiff Crown Court on Monday 20 April 2026, Teri Jones, 38 from Trowbridge, Cardiff pleaded guilty to two counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
She was later sentenced to 6 months imprisonment, suspended for 18 months.
Lee Brooks, Executive Director of Operations at the Welsh Ambulance Service, said: “This split-second act of violence has had a devastating and long-term impact on Yael, and the fact she’s been unable to work for so long is heartbreaking.
“The attack hasn’t just affected her – it’s affected every patient in our community who relies on our ambulance service.
“This is a stark reminder of the abhorrent behaviour our staff and volunteers can be subject to when going about their work in service to others.
“It is time for us collectively to say enough is enough.
“We will always pursue prosecution if you harm our people, so the message is simple – just don’t do it.”
Police constable Ieuan Harris-Jones at South Wales Police added: “Assaulting an emergency worker when they are working hard to help others will not be tolerated under any circumstances and those who do will be arrested and put before the courts.
“The assault had a significant impact on the victim who I hope makes a full recovery and is able to put what was a very traumatic experience behind her.”
In 2021, the Joint Emergency Services Group in Wales launched its With Us, Not Against Us campaign in a bid to reduce assaults on Welsh emergency workers.
Pledge your support on social media using the hashtag #WithUsNotAgainstUs.