An ambulance has been stolen while on the job in Timaru

It was taken from outside Timaru Hospital, as staff were preparing a patient for urgent transfer to Christchurch.

ProMed owner and operator Don Gutsell says his heart dropped when he wheeled a stretcher from ED, to find the ambulance gone.

He says it was found quickly - after being tracked using an app on his phone that was left inside.

Gutsell says the thief had taken off - luckily nothing had been taken, and the vehicle was undamaged.