The pair were sent to a flat in Trinity on the evening of 18 March 2022 after the man called 999, the Royal Court heard.

In a recording of the phone call that was played to the jury earlier this week, the patient is heard reporting that he took an overdose and giving very indistinct answers when asked his address and age.

"We asked how we could help him"

Interviews with the two paramedics were also read in court, with both stating that when they arrived the patient was sitting upright and appeared alert but was surrounded by empty beer cans.

Mr Sutherland said: “We asked how we could help him but he was incoherent, and there was evidence of alcohol consumption around the flat.

“He became aggressive. We told him we just wanted to help, but he got up and raised his fists in an aggressive manner and stood in a boxing stance. He threw three or four punches but they didn’t connect.

“One minute he was happy and the next minute he was trying to fight us.”

"He was behaving violently"

Mr Le Sauteur said in his interview that the patient showed “no signs of distress and no signs of breathing difficulties”, but added: “He had the speech of a very intoxicated person.

“He was behaving violently. He had to be taken to hospital but we needed police assistance.”

He said that after waiting 15 minutes they called the States police back to see how long they were likely to take.

“They said the police hadn’t been dispatched yet.”

After officers arrived, the patient began vomiting repeatedly and, despite help from the paramedics and police, he died.

A report showed that he had suffered cardiac and respiratory arrest, and that alcohol and diazepam were found in his system.

"You don’t expect your colleagues to be suspended"

Yesterday, George De Carteret told the court that he was “surprised” when he heard that his colleagues Mr Sutherland and Mr Le Sauteur had later been suspended over the incident.

Giving evidence, Mr De Carteret said he was sent to the flat as extra support.

“I got there at around the same time as the police," he said. "I saw John and Tom doing CPR and administering life support. They had all the equipment – a defibrillator, oxygen and the paramedics’ red bag.”

However, they were unable to save the man and he died of a suspected cardiac arrest.

Crown Advocate Luke Sette, prosecuting, asked Mr De Carteret how he had felt when he heard the two paramedics had been suspended.

He said: “I was surprised. You don’t expect your colleagues to be suspended.”

"He didn’t want any help"

The court heard from another paramedic, Leanne Le Feuvre, who had been sent to the same address on two previous occasions after the resident called emergency services.

She recalled: “He was quite verbally aggressive.”

Another, Kerrie Mauger-Donnington, who accompanied Ms Le Feuvre on one of the call-outs, added: “He wasn’t very happy to see us and said he didn’t want any help. He used some choice words.”

Anna Le Maistre, a medical technician, also spoke on behalf of Mr Sutherland and Mr Le Sauteur.

Under questioning from Advocate Frances Littler, defending, Ms Le Maistre said: “If I had to make an emergency call, I would want John to come out.

“And Tom has always been very professional and very compassionate and caring.”

The trial is expected to last for another three days.

Commissioner Sir John Saunders is presiding and Jurats Jane Ronge and Michael Entwistle are sitting.