A 60-year-old psychiatric patient is fighting for his life after he was brutally attacked allegedly by another patient.
The incident happened inside a ward at the National Psychiatric Referral Hospital in Manzini. The victim is currently in a coma at Manzini Clinic after suffering severe head injuries during the violent assault that reportedly unfolded last Sunday morning.
According to sources privy to details of the matter, the terrifying incident happened at around 1am inside one of the wards where both men had been admitted as patients. They said before the discovery that the patient was being attacked, loud banging noises were heard coming from the ward. Healthcare workers who were on night duty are said to have rushed to investigate.
“When staff members entered the ward, they found the younger patient allegedly banging the older man against the wall. It was a disturbing scene because the victim appeared helpless and badly injured,” said a source.
Sources further alleged that the 40-year-old suspect repeatedly slammed the elderly patient’s head against both the wall and floor during the attack. The reason behind the assault could not immediately be established, although insiders claimed the suspect might have been experiencing a psychiatric episode at the time.
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The victim reportedly sustained serious head injuries and lost consciousness shortly after the assault. Healthcare workers are said to have acted swiftly to stabilise him before he was rushed to Raleigh Fitkin Memorial Hospital for emergency treatment. However, due to the severity of his injuries, he was later transferred to Manzini Clinic, where he remains under intensive care.
The Police later opened a case of attempted murder against the 40-year-old patient who hails from Big Bend, as confirmed by acting Deputy Chief Police Information and Communications Officer Inspector Mazwi Ndzimandze. He said the 40-year-old man from Big Bend was arrested last Friday and formally charged with attempted murder.
Ndzimandze also said the suspect was remanded at the Matsapha Criminal Asylum pending further investigations.
