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Patient Sets Hospital Bed Ablaze in Athens, Causing Ward Destruction
🇬🇷 Greece /Health & Science

Patient Sets Hospital Bed Ablaze in Athens, Causing Ward Destruction

From Ta Nea · () Greek

Translated from Greek, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified Outcome reported
  • A 76-year-old patient allegedly set fire to his hospital bed in Athens, causing extensive damage to a ward and prompting evacuations.
  • Firefighters responded to the blaze at Sismanogleio Hospital, while nurses attempted to contain the fire with extinguishers.
  • The patient, who fled the scene, was later apprehended and reportedly stated he acted out of stress.

A fire broke out in a ward at Sismanogleio Hospital in Athens early Thursday morning, allegedly started by a 76-year-old patient. The blaze completely destroyed the patient's room and led to the evacuation of three other wards. Nurses worked to control the flames with fire extinguishers before the fire department arrived.

The fire originated from the middle bed in room number 8 of the A' Pathology Clinic. The patient who allegedly started the fire was hospitalized with two other individuals. Hospital staff initiated an alarm and evacuated nearby wards as a precaution.

During a patient count, staff realized one patient was missing, prompting authorities to search for the 76-year-old. Police located and arrested him at an apartment building in Nea Filadelfia.

In his statement, the 76-year-old reportedly confessed to starting the fire with a lighter, explaining he felt stressed and expressed regret. He had left the hospital immediately after the incident but was apprehended hours later.

I took my lighter and set fire to the mattress. I did it because I felt stressed. I apologize. I regret what I did.

— 76-year-old patientThe patient's alleged statement to authorities after being apprehended.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Ta Nea in Greek. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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