Source : Perth Now news
A late-night alleged attack inside a Sydney hospital has left three patients injured after police accused a man of pouring accelerant over fellow patients before setting one of them alight.
Police allege a 48-year-old patient targeted two men, aged 54 and 63, and a 64-year-old woman inside Prince of Wales Hospital at Randwick about 10.45pm on Tuesday.
Investigators claim he doused the three with accelerant before allegedly setting 54-year-old Randovan Banic on fire.
“He was coming towards me, and then all of a sudden he f***ing doused me with petrol,” Mr Banic told 9News.
“I smelled it but it was too late, he’d already lit me up.”
The 54-year-old, who had already been receiving treatment in the hospital’s spinal unit, is now in intensive care with burns suffered in the incident.
“I could just smell petrol all over my hair,” he said.
“My hair’s singed, my eyebrows … I got smoke in my eyes, just everything. They’ve just been pumping me with water.”
Hospital staff moved quickly to put out the flames. The other two patients, a 63-year-old man and a 64-year-old woman, were also treated for minor injuries and were in stable conditions.
Officers were called to the hospital after reports of a concern for welfare.
The 48-year-old was arrested at the scene and later charged with two counts of attempted murder, common assault and two counts of attempting to cause grievous bodily harm with intent.
He is due to appear before court on Thursday.
NSW Health Minister Ryan Park described the alleged incident as “shocking, appalling behaviour”.
Opposition health spokeswoman Sarah Mitchell describing the incident as “beyond unacceptable”.
“I am deeply disturbed by reports of patients being doused in petrol and set alight at Prince of Wales Hospital,” Ms Mitchell said.
“Safety must be non-negotiable in our public hospitals.”
