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A 72-year-old man died at a Sydney hospital about an hour after a woman allegedly switched off the gas main at the facility in an act of sabotage.
Vanessa Moulton, 42, was arrested after allegedly cutting off water and gas mains and activating fire hoses at Kareena Private Hospital at about 12.20am on Tuesday, before scaling a wall to access a restricted area at Sutherland Hospital and switching off the hospital’s gas main about an hour later.
NSW Police forensics at Kareena Private Hospital in Caringbah, Sydney on Tuesday.Credit: Sam Mooy
Moulton was arrested about 4am on Tuesday, and charged with two counts of public nuisance, two counts of entering the premises without a lawful excuse, sabotage, destroying or damaging property and a breach of bail.
She was also charged with allegedly tampering of a fire alarm and trespassing at a hostel in Darlinghurst on Monday, and will appear at Sutherland Local Court on Wednesday.
Police were told that the man died at Sutherland Hospital at 2.30am, about one hour after Moulton allegedly switched off the gas mains at the facility.
Speaking on Tuesday, Health Minister Ryan Park described the act as “highly dangerous and could have been catastrophic”, alleging the loss of gases was a “deliberate sabotage” that stopped the flow of medical gases for patients “who are very, very unwell”.
Health Minister Ryan Park at a press conference on Tuesday morning responding to questions about the alleged sabotage at two Sydney hospitals.Credit: Sam Mooy
Sutherland Hospital switched to portable oxygen and air under contingency plans triggered on Tuesday morning, and had restored the gas systems about two hours after the alleged vandalism.
There are 360 beds at Sutherland Hospital, which provides critical services spanning emergency care, cancer treatment, a birthing unit, and respiratory and geriatric care.
Park said on Tuesday that the alleged vandalism had “no impact” on patient care, and that all services were “quickly restored” following the act.
Health authorities are expected to review the incident to identify actions that can prevent a similar event occurring again.
The alleged vandalism is being investigated as a mental health incident.
More to come
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