The psychiatric ward (Ward 5) at Swakopmund State Hospital was thrown into chaos yesterday afternoon, after a patient set a part of the facility on fire.
Sean Naude of the Namibia Marshall Rangers subdued the patient, who set a bed on fire.
“I was here with another stabbing patient when a fire suddenly broke out. Without hesitation, we worked to extinguish the flames,” Naude said, adding that the psychiatric patient, in an unpredictable state, attempted to use a pair of scissors as a weapon against him.
Naude was also punched in the face by the patient.
Despite the attack, Naude and his team managed to detain the patient.
Naude received injuries requiring stitches, sustained while breaking windows to allow ventilation into the building. The situation was brought under control with the combined efforts of the fire department and the hospital’s nursing staff.
The incident echoes a similar occurrence a month ago, allegedly involving the same patient in the same ward.
The Erongo health director was unavailable for comment.
The police are investigating the matter.
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