PATIENT ON ROOF

New Zealand Herald, Volume 82, Issue 25180, 18 April 1945, Page 6

PATIENT ON ROOF

HOSPITAL SENSATION ANSWERS WIFE'S APPEAL (P.A.) DUNEDIN, Tuesday A sensation was caused in the precincts of the Dunedin Hospital on Sunday night by a male patient in on& of the upstairs wards breaking a window and climbing out on to the balcony . He made his way on to the roof, where he defied for nearly two hours the combined efforts of the hospital staff, police and fire brigade to move him. . . . Clad only in pyjamas the patient, made his ascent to the roof at about 7.15 p.m. The hospital authorities took all precautions to guard against his suffering injury through his escapade and mattresses were placed on the ground at the foot of the building. Two sergeants of police and three constables soon arrived on the scene, where a crowd had gathered. The man refused all requests that he should leave his lofty perch and eventually the metropolitan fire brigade arrived with equipment which included an extension ladder and sheet. The patient, however, persisted in his determination to stay where he was. He refused to jump into the sheet which members of the fire brigade were holding in readiness and threatened to jump off the roof if the ladder were put up or anvone came after him. Eventually ne relented to the extent of saying that if his wife were brought to see him he would come down. The man's wife arrived from a distant suburb and her appeal to her husband produced results. He descended part of the way to the window where he was quickly seized by members of the. staff and removed to the ward.