Mentally ill patient killed by car after fleeing Eastern Cape hospital

A mentally ill patient died this week after he was hit by a car while running out of Bhisho Hospital.

On Thursday‚ provincial health spokesman Sizwe Kupelo confirmed the “unfortunate incident” that took place on Wednesday.

“Unfortunately yesterday‚ a male patient went through perimeter fencing and‚ while being followed by hospital staff and security‚ he attempted to cross the road and was knocked down by a car – and was declared dead on the scene‚” Kupelo said.

The 30-year-old patient died after 4pm on Wednesday.

Kupelo said patients are sometimes admitted in regional hospitals for a 72-hour observation period‚ but because of the strain on psychiatric hospitals‚ they are kept at regional hospitals longer than 72 hours.

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