One of four alleged victims of a terrifying and random alleged assault outside an Adelaide hospital has spoken for the first time about the ordeal.
Modbury Hospital increased security measures for its frontline workers but Victor Watson, 91, who nearly lost his life in the alleged attack, said more should be done.
“I was off balance and I fell, and that’s where I hit my head. And then I woke up for a few seconds and I was just blacked out,” he told 9News.
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Watson was leaving after visiting his wife at Modbury Hospital, in the city’s north-east, with his son-in-law when a man allegedly unleashed on them.
“I looked and this fella was attacking him, and I – obviously, stupid thing – went out to try and help him,” he said.
Watson was hurt as he tried to help his son-in-law and placed in intensive care for three weeks.
“I was stupid to have gone out, I know. I’ve been told that many times but that’s the sort of person I am,” Watson said.
His family was told to prepare for the worst but he pulled through.
The issue of safety outside Modbury Hospital remains an ongoing concern.
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The nurses union today called for increased security measures to protect workers and patients and the hospital agreed.
“Anyone who’s working after hours will be guaranteed a car park onsite,” Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation SA branch chief executive Elizabeth Dabars said.
Northern Adelaide Local Health Network chief executive Karen Puvogel said the hospital had also added security assistance so staff could be escorted back to their cars between 5pm and 10pm.
Watson wished those measures had been in place earlier.
“There should be someone closer to the door, definitely. Even one or two security … to prevent anything like that happening again,” he said.
Kym Bicknell, who had been a patient at Modbury Hospital, was charged with two counts of robbery, two counts of assault causing harm, theft and assault.
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