An ordinary Australian man who posed as a paramedic and commissioned first aid training from major companies despite having no qualifications has been deemed a threat to public safety.
Andreas Pantziaros was given a lifetime ban by the NSW Health Care Complaints Commission on Tuesday for offering bogus healthcare services through his private firm Medic Corp Ambulance.
He is alleged to have duped major companies, including St Basil’s, a major aged care company with five residential homes and 650 staff across Sydney, and Blue Steel, the construction company behind the Crown Casino in Barangaroo on the city’s harbour.
Last year, Pantziaros was convicted and fined $1,000 for posing as an emergency responder and also for falsely registering his vehicle as an ambulance, causing his fee to drop from $590 to just $68.
“The Commission found that Mr Pantziaros was wearing a formal uniform that closely resembled the NSW Ambulance Paramedic uniform, which could easily mislead the public into believing he was a NSW paramedic,” the commission said.
Andreas Pantziaros (pictured) was given a lifetime ban by the NSW Health Care Complaints Commission on Tuesday for offering bogus healthcare services through his private firm Medic Corp Ambulance
‘While wearing this uniform, Mr Pantziaros drove a vehicle modified to resemble a NSW Ambulance vehicle, including the words ‘Ambulance’, ‘000 Emergency’ and a ‘Medic Corp’ logo almost identical to the NSW Ambulance logo,” the committee found
‘While wearing this uniform, Mr Pantziaros drove a vehicle modified to resemble a NSW Ambulance vehicle, including the words ‘Ambulance’, ‘000 Emergency’ and a ‘Medic Corp’ logo almost identical to the NSW Ambulance logo.
‘Mr Pantziaros does not have the qualifications necessary to fulfill the role of paramedic.’
The ban added that he was not qualified to provide first aid.
This did not stop him from charging private companies and non-profit organizations for training days.
In 2021, he shared a selfie with a group of women holding first aid men.
“Providing first aid and CPR training to the teachers of the Polish school,” he wrote in the post.
Pantziaros is alleged to have duped major companies, including St Basil’s, a major aged care company with five residential homes and 650 staff across Sydney, and Blue Steel, the construction company behind the Crown Casino in Barangaroo on the city’s harbor (photo)
Pictured: Pantziaros’ fake ambulance that he used as part of his Medic Corp business
The Medic Corp Ambulance website has been removed, but its social media profile remains active.
It appears that Pantziaros has also plied his fake trade abroad.
His social media profile shows that he now lives in Cyprus, where he runs a ‘corporate health and safety service’ called ‘A.Pantziaros Consultants Ltd’.
A post from December 2022 shows him leading a training day for a volunteer rescue group in Cyprus.
“A very interesting presentation by our friend and trainer Andreas Pantziaros on the use of medical oxygen,” the caption reads.
It appears Pantziaros has also been plying his fake trade abroad (Photo: A post from December 2022 appears to show him leading a training day for a volunteer rescue group in Cyprus)
‘This was followed by practical training where our volunteers, with the help of our trainers, put theory into practice.’
The NSW Health Care Complaints Committee ruled he ‘poses a risk to public health and safety’.
“Mr Andreas Pantziaros is permanently prohibited from providing any form of healthcare, whether in paid employment or voluntarily, including through any company, to any member of the public,” the report ruled.
Daily Mail Australia has contacted Pantziaros for comment.