ST ELIZABETH, Jamaica — Two staff members and a visitor were injured in the early hours of Saturday at the Black River Hospital, 15 miles west of Santa Cruz, when they were attacked by a knife-wielding patient.

Reports say one staff member (a female patient care assistant), who was the initial target of the attack, received minor injuries. Two men, a hospital staff member and a visitor received knife wounds to the hands, chest and back as they struggled to restrain the assailant.

They were reportedly under observation at hospital Saturday afternoon but their injuries are not considered serious.

“The two gentlemen were up and about but they are under observation,” Sean Brissett, parish manager for health services in St Elizabeth told OBSERVER ONLINE.

The assailant, who sources say was admitted to hospital following “seizures”, ran away following the incident.

Reports say the man was later pulled from the sea by police. He is now in police custody at the Black River Hospital.

 Brissett said counselling sessions are being arranged for staff and patients following the incident.

There will also be a review of security arrangements, he said. A police spokesman assured the OBSERVER ONLINE that in the wake of the bizarre attack “there is adequate security at the hospital”.

Garfield Myers