The injured firefighter at the centre of Monday’s chaotic picket said he was disgusted emergency crews refused to help as he lay bleeding on the ground.

Speaking exclusively to the Croydon Guardian, Tamer Ozdemir revealed he bore no anger towards the driver of the car which struck him during the picket at Croydon fire station.

But he said he was furious at strikebreaking crews filling in during the eight-hour strike, who ignored his colleagues’ pleas for blankets and first aid kits stored in their fire engines.

He said: “I remember quite clearly before they morphined me up, my guys were asking emergency fire crews for help, but they wouldn’t.

“I find that disgusting. As a firefighter you can’t choose who you treat, you have no right to.”

The father of two was due to start his shift at Croydon station at 6pm, but said he gone early to support his picketing blue watch colleagues.

He said: “A fire engine came back and was bumping the picket line, but the police told us to let it through.

“I was behind it maybe 10 metres from the gate when I could hear a car revving really violently behind me.

“I only saw it at the last minute as I turned - I jumped but my stomach down to my knees bore the brunt of it, and my arm and shoulder smashed the windscreen.

“I tried to get up but I couldn’t. It felt really weird, like someone stamping on me.

“There was a massive thud and I hit the floor.

“It’s the worst thing I have ever gone through, I wouldn’t wish it on anyone.”

Mr Ozdemir, who has worked at the Croydon station for four years, said he discharged himself from hospital as soon as doctors revealed his hip was not broken.

He said: “I pushed to go home as soon as I could because it was so busy - a kid came in next to me really badly injured and I didn’t want to be taking up room.

“I just wish I could get out of the house and back to work.

“Hopefully this nasty incident makes people realise it’s gone too far.

“I just want the Fire Brigade management and the union to go into a room and lock the door, and not come out before they agree something.”

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