A 31-year-old man has been arrested after allegedly stealing an ambulance parked outside a hospital while a patient, a paramedic and another person were still inside the vehicle.

The incident occurred at about 8:15 p.m. on Wednesday at the Royal Stoke University Hospital, according to the Staffordshire Police.

Police said the ambulance was driven away from the hospital premises while the patient and two others were in the back of the vehicle. Fortunately, none of the occupants sustained injuries during the incident.

Officers tracked the stolen ambulance and followed it until the driver stopped at an Esso petrol station along the A34 at the junction of Liverpool Road and London Road in Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire

A police dog unit later searched nearby marshland close to London Road where the suspect reportedly attempted to flee.

However, he was quickly apprehended by officers and the police canine unit.

Police confirmed that the suspect, a resident of Stoke-on-Trent, was arrested on suspicion of kidnap, vehicle theft, drink driving and failing to provide a specimen for analysis. He remains in police custody as investigations continue.

A spokesperson for the West Midlands Ambulance Service said that once the ambulance was safely stopped, another emergency vehicle was immediately dispatched to transport the patient to the hospital.

The spokesperson added that a welfare check was also carried out on the ambulance staff member involved to ensure their wellbeing.

Authorities said a full investigation is currently ongoing, and members of the public with relevant information have been urged to contact the police. (BBC)