During the trial of Derek Chauvin, Minneapolis firefighter Genevieve Hansen testified Tuesday that when she came upon the scene, police officers prevented her from helping George Floyd.

Hansen, who is also a licensed EMT, said she identified herself to the officers on the scene. Yet, former officer Tou Thao told her not to get involved.

Derek Chauvin is charged with murder and manslaughter for his role in Floyd’s death on May 25, 2020, which was captured on video and seen by millions, sparking protests against racial injustice and police brutality around the globe, reported AFP. 

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“He said something along the lines of if you really are a Minneapolis firefighter, you would know better than to get involved,” she said, CNN reported. 

Trying to help was “exactly what I should have done,” she sighed, 

“There was no medical assistance on scene and I got there and I could have given medical assistance. That’s exactly what I should have done,” she said.

On the stand, Hansen delivered emotional testimony about not being able to help Floyd. Asked if the officers’ response that day frustrated her, with tears in her eyes, Hansen choked up as she responded “yes.”

Hansen also admitted that she should have called 911 “immediately” after arriving on the scene but once the ambulance left with George Floyd, she stood there on the sidewalk in “disbelief.”

“I think it all settled in that I wish I would have done that immediately because it was ridiculous that 17… fire station 17 was as close as it was and that they hadn’t been there,” she testified.

“I should have called 911 immediately but I didn’t and when things calmed down I realized that I wanted them to know what was going on. I wanted to basically report it,” she added.

Moreover, Hansen said she felt “helpless” and was upset about what she saw.

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Asked why she felt helpless, Hansen said, “because there was a man being killed, and I would have… had I had access to a call similar to that, I would have been able to provide medical attention to the best of my abilities and this human was denied that.”

Meanwhile, with the world watching, Chauvin, a 19-year veteran of the police force, faces up to 40 years in prison if convicted of the most serious charge — second-degree murder.

The trial is expected to last about a month.

Three other former police officers involved in the arrest — including Tou Thao — are to be tried separately later this year.