SWAKOPMUND - A mentally unstable patient caused considerable damage to the mental ward of the Swakopmund State Hospital after he set a room on fire on Sunday.

The incident was confirmed to New Era by the Erongo Health Director, Anna Jonas.

According to the Erongo police, the 26-year-old Namibian male was admitted to the hospital for mental health treatment on Saturday.

This is after he caused disturbances to relatives, resulting in his admission.

Warrant Officer Tuyenikelao Tashiya yesterday indicated that the patient allegedly demanded to be released on Sunday morning.

“His demands were not met by the nurse that was on duty. As a result, the patient took matters into his own hands and set the room on fire with matches when he went back to the ward,” Tashiya said.

This resulted in significant damage to the bedding and the interior of the mental ward.

Following the incident, the suspect was swiftly transferred to Windhoek Central Mental Hospital for further evaluation and treatment.

The police yesterday also indicated that the total amount of properties destroyed during the fire amounts to N$26 000.

Marshal Ranger Sean Naude, who witnessed the incident on Sunday, stated that they arrived at the Swakopmund State Hospital with a stabbed patient when chaos ensued at the hospital.

“Patients were being removed from the wards in the hospital due to the fire, and the nursing staff and I grabbed the extinguishers and started fighting the fire while we waiting for the fire department to arrive, who responded swiftly,” Naude stated.

- edeklerk@nepc.com.na