Sydney Hospital Attack: Man Recalls Moment of Being Set Alight
A 54-year-old man who was set alight during an attack at Prince of Wales Hospital in Sydney has spoken about the moment he realised he was on fire. The incident has sparked concerns about rising aggression in the healthcare system.
A Sydney man who was set alight during an attack at Prince of Wales Hospital has spoken about the moment he realised he was on fire. Radovan Banic, 54, was one of three people allegedly doused in petrol before he was set alight at the hospital in Randwick on Tuesday night.
From his hospital bed on Thursday, Mr Banic recalled the moment he realised he had been doused in accelerant. "I thought it was water," he said. "Then he come towards me I thought 'f***ing go for it mate chuck the water I don't give a f***'. And maybe before I even smelled it, I was already alight."
Police said Mr Banic sustained minor burns, still visible on Thursday, and was in a stable condition. "To do that to someone in hospital is a shit go man," he said. "You know what, I'm glad it happened to me and didn't happen to someone who couldn't defend themselves or take their clothes off because mate they wouldn't have been here today."
Raymond Dungay, 48, has been charged with two counts of attempted murder. Police said detectives would allege he unsuccessfully attempted to set two other patients, a man and a woman aged 63 and 64, on fire. Mr Dungay was charged with two counts each of attempted murder, attempted grievous bodily harm and one of assault. He fronted a Sydney court on Thursday, where he did not apply for bail, after a judge was told Mr Dungay was already on bail at the time of the incident.
NSW Nurses and Midwives Association general secretary Michael Whaites said the incident reflected the rising aggression across the system. "Unfortunately, this is not the first time we have seen patients being violent towards other patients in the public healthcare system," he said.
NSW Health Services Union assistant secretary Lauren Hutchins said the incident was alarming. "We are deeply concerned about the level of violence and anti-social behaviour in hospitals. We have seen it increasing and escalating over the last few years," she said.
NSW Health Minister Ryan Park said an urgent review was underway into the incident.