Seven Mental Patients Escape

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31231, 1 December 1966, Page 1

Seven Mental Patients Escape

(New Zealand Press Association)

DUNEDIN, December 1.

Seven patients assaulted an attendant and broke out from a locked ward at Cherry Tree Farm Hospital at 8 o’clock last night. Police with dogs were rushed to the area to assist in the search. Soon after they arrived, one patient was recaptured, but the other six, considered dangerous by the police, were still at large early this morning. Road blocks were set up at Waikouaiti and Waitati.

Search headquarters were set up at Cherry Farm by Sergeant G. C. Cleland of Dunedin.

The Oamaru police were alerted, and police from Palmerston and Waikouaiti with traffic officers and attendants from the hospital joined the search.

The attendant assaulted was Mr G. Coutts. He suffered bruising and his condition was described as satisfactory. Dr. M. H. L. de Groot, deputy superintendent of the Seacliff group said he thought that individually the patients were not dangerous, but collectively could be. Dr. de Groot said the patients were in the day room with two male nurses at 8 o’clock when several patients jumped on a male nurse, pummelling him while another took his keys.

The patients unlocked the outside door of the villa and ran.

Early this morning the escapers had split into parties of two and four.