Rival paramedics had a gunfight in a row over who should treat an injured motorcyclist.

Two emergency rescue groups rushed to the scene of a motorcycle accident in Bangkok, Thailand, in the early hours of Thursday.

But instead of cooperating to save a life, the paramedics reportedly began arguing over which team should collect the victim - a lucrative job as the injured man would be liable for the costs.

In a worrying sign of the risks of private healthcare systems, the row soon became violent as gunshots rang out across the street.

Police were alerted at 1 am local time. They rushed to Soi Lat Phrao 122, where they found three volunteers shot in the gunfight.

Paramedic Jirayut, 27, was shot in the neck, while Akkaradech, 36, was struck in the chest. Both rescuers from the Ruamkatanyu Foundation were rushed to the Ladprao General Hospital.

A third volunteer, Jittiwa, 25, from the rival Siam Ruamjai Foundation, was shot in the stomach and taken to Nopparat Rajathanee Hospital.

Bloodstains and five bullet casings were recovered from the scene.

Police Captain Wittawat Khunaksorn of the Wang Thong Lang Police Station said: ‘We are checking security camera footage and questioning the three injured victims.

‘We suspect the incident was caused by a dispute over who would assist the injured victim.

‘The shooter was a man wearing a t-shirt and 3/4 pants who escaped after the incident. We are searching for him to proceed with legal action.'

Thailand has one of the highest gun ownership and gun homicide rates among Southeast Asian nations.

Though Thai authorities have vowed to tighten gun control, there are around 4 million unregistered guns, often smuggled from war-torn countries, in circulation, the Ministry of Interior said in 2023.

The country's state healthcare system is underfunded, with many hospitals in a state of decay. However, private hospitals are among the best in the world. Emergency response is often performed by volunteer organisations that relay on donations and fees from the victims.