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.

• Life Esidimeni tragedy: what steps have been taken to heal the hurt caused?The Life Esidimeni saga in which about 100 mentally ill and vulnerable patients in Gauteng died after being forcibly removed from private care and put into cheaper‚ ill-equipped NGOs made international headlines. 

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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