Figures released by London Ambulance Service shows that 53 per cent of frontline colleagues have been attacked while on duty, and 562 of them were assaulted three or more times in just 12 months.

The latest staff survey also found that 44 per cent had been sexually harassed by patients or members of the public.

A new campaign has been launched, calling on the public to show respect to those caring for them. The campaign, 'All we want for Christmas is… RESPECT includes a campaign video showing a series of violent or abusive incidents.

The video shows a clip of paramedic Emily Jackson, with a patient threatening to kill her.

Talking about another incident over a previous festive period, Emily said: “It was this time of year – when people are out drinking or partying. Our patient was unconscious on the floor and I was really worried about him.

“He was struggling to breathe and I worried he was going to stop breathing and go into cardiac arrest.

“We were getting ready to do an ECG when he regained consciousness. He was friendly at first then suddenly switched.

“He looked ready to fight the whole pub and made sexually aggressive comments to me. He was throwing punches and I got hit in the face.”

The attacker left the pub but walked back in soon after.

“It was like a horror film – I just froze. He threatened to rape me and said he would dump my body in an alleyway.

“That threat frightened me more than when he was throwing punches; it chilled me.”

The attacker was jailed for eight months for beating and threatening an emergency worker.

Emily is now working on a project to protect call handlers from abuse over the phone.

Violence increases around Christmas and drugs and alcohol are a factor in around 40 per cent of violent incidents.

London Ambulance Service Chief Executive Jason Killens KAM said: “During the festive season when Londoners are celebrating, our people are working tirelessly to save lives.

“Any violence, threats or harassment is completely unacceptable. No one should face this at work and on top of the hurt and harm it causes our people, it can prevent us from caring for patients who need our help.

“All we are asking for is respect – on the phone, on the road and in the communities we serve.

“If abuse happens, we work with the police to ensure it is investigated and offenders are punished.”