SNEAK thieves stole life saving equipment from the back of an ambulance that was answering a 999 emergency call.

While the paramedic crew were treating a patient at Eddison Way in Hemlington, Middlesbrough, someone climbed aboard and stole potentially life threatening drugs and vital equipment.

A first responder bag containing oxygen and resuscitation equipment, a paramedic back-pack (green) which contains a cardiac drug pack plus hyperdermic needles, cannulas, blood giving sets, infusion fluid and intubation equipment was stolen at 10.30pm on Wednesday.

In the cardiac drug pack were a number of pre-filled syringes including six packs of adrenalin , three Lignocaine and five of Atropaine.

Dave Owen, area manager for the Ambulance Service, is warning anyone who is tempted to take the drugs that the consequences could be fatal.

He said: "We are really concerned about the drug pack, if people try to take the drugs it could be a lethal cocktail.

"The medicines create a number of different effects from slowing the heart or speeding up and there is the potential for bringing on a cardiac arrest.

"If these are taken unsupervised or given to anybody else to take it could seriously risk people's lives.

"Anyone taking these drugs would be foolish."

Without realising the equipment had been stolen the ambulance crew then answered another emergency call.

Mr Owen added: "Had that call been to a cardiac arrest, the patient would have died because there would have been no equipment to treat the patient.

"The crew would not have known until it was too late that the vital equipment for a cardiac arrest situation was missing.

"Unfortunately the current climate we live in, the equipment from the ambulance could be of use to any number of people who are willing to take risks with their lives.

"Thankfully they didn't steal the defibrillator which could have proven to be equally as deadly as any of the drugs."

Anyone with any information who knows anything about the incident or the where about of the equipment is asked to call Middlesbrough Police on (01642) 303126.