A 20-year-old female patient had to be restrained at Wollongong Hospital early on Sunday morning after she allegedly threatened a security guard with a knife.
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Wollongong Police are investigating the incident which occurred around 6.30am – around 12 hours after the woman arrived at the hospital’s emergency department.
According to a witness, who asked to remain anonymous, a nurse and security guard were attempting to assist the woman into a wheelchair when she lunged at the guard with a knife.
“She took a 20cm paring knife out of her handbag and flicked out with her arm with the knife,” the witness said.
“The security guard caught her wrist, with the knife against his chest. He managed to get her to drop it to the floor, and she was chemically sedated to calm her down.”
The witness said around 10 patients and relatives witnessed the alleged attack in a section of the ED.
A NSW Police spokesperson said investigations were continuing into the incident.
The spokesperson said police first had contact with the woman at another medical facility around 5.30pm on Saturday, after receiving reports she was behaving erratically at the premises. However the issue had apparently been resolved by the time officers arrived.
“The patient’s mother accompanied her when she was transferred to [Wollongong Hospital] for further assessment, with police following in a separate vehicle,” the spokesperson said.
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“After the woman was admitted to hospital, officers returned to Wollongong Police Station about 7.15pm.
“At 6.30am on Sunday, police were called after the same patient had to be restrained after a security guard was allegedly threatened by the patient who was armed with a small knife.
“No one was injured.”
An Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District spokesperson could not comment as the police investigation was ongoing.
