A high-risk mental health patient escaped the Canberra Hospital’s Adult Mental Health Unit (AMHU) by setting his mattress alight and fleeing through the facility’s fire door, the ABC can reveal. The man was one of four court-ordered patients in the facility, guarded by three security officers. He is believed to have set his mattress and bedding alight, triggering the facility’s fire alarm. An ACT Health spokeswoman said the alarm automatically disarmed the facility’s fire doors and the patient left the unit. “Nursing staff immediately alerted the security guard who proceeded to conduct a search,” she said. “AWOL (Absent Without Official Leave) procedures were enacted, including contact with ACT Policing and family.” The man returned of his own accord more than six hours later with “no incident or misadventure”, according to ACT Health.
