Failure to Warn Ambulance Staff about Violent Patient Leads to Paramedic Murder in Harmånger

On September 20, 2025, a female paramedic was tragically murdered during an emergency call in Harmånger. The man suspected of the murder had previously displayed violent tendencies, including expressing a 'drive to kill' six weeks before the fatal incident. This alarming threat had been communicated by ambulance personnel to their immediate supervisor. Despite this, his employer, Region Gävleborg, failed to inform or warn ambulance staff about the potential danger the patient posed.

Additional events underline the severity of the risk. Just three days before the murder, the suspect had violently attacked another paramedic with a baseball bat. Nevertheless, no warnings were issued to staff about this assault, leaving them vulnerable when attending emergency calls involving the patient.

Tommy Iseskog, a workplace safety expert, sharply criticized Region Gävleborg, stating that the employer violated Swedish labor laws by not adequately informing their personnel about the danger. Iseskog said, "This is a risk that personnel must be aware of, and if they are not, the risks of severe consequences, including death, naturally increase."

Region Gävleborg has declined to comment on why staff were not warned about the patient’s violent history, citing ongoing investigations. This failure to share critical risk information significantly contributed to the tragic loss of life and raises serious questions about employer responsibilities in protecting emergency responders from known threats.

This case has sparked a critical conversation about workplace safety in emergency services and the necessity of transparent communication regarding threats to paramedics and other first responders.