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Berserk alcoholic's ward plunge at Birmingham's Heartlands Hospital
Mar 28 2008 By Alison Dayani, Health Correspondent
AN ALCOHOLIC going through 'cold turkey' went berserk on a Birmingham hospital ward, smashing through a window and plunging 15ft to the ground.
The 37-year-old man was being treated at Heartlands Hospital when he grabbed a fire extinguisher to break through the pane of glass in front of shocked and frightened fellow-patients.
Police were called to the grounds of the hospital in Bordesley Green, where the man had broken his ankle in the fall from the first floor shortly after 6.30am on Wednesday.
"There were a few quite elderly women who found it all quite scary," said a visitor to ward 24, who was worried for a relative.
"They were woken up to the sound of the man causing a lot of commotion and smashing open the window with a fire extinguisher.
"He then jumped out of the window even though the ward was on the second floor.
"The man is believed to have been an alcoholic and was going through cold turkey when he suddenly flipped out."
Lisa Dunn, Heartlands Hospital director, said no other patients or staff were injured.
"The man was admitted to a respiratory ward and, in a confused state, he broke a window," said Ms Dunn.
"Staff responded immediately and the man continues to be treated in a ward."
A West Midlands Police spokeswoman said: "Police were called over some disorder that had taken place.
"The man is still being treated at the hospital, but police are investigating the matter over criminal damage."
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