A 33-year-old male patient died last week after falling off the seventh floor at Pelonomi Tertiary Hospital in Bloemfontein.
A statement issued by Free State health department spokesperson Mondli Mvambi said the patient had sustained burns and had been transferred from Dr JS Moroka District Hospital in Thaba Nchu on July 17.
According to the statement, the patient’s condition was assessed at Dr JS Moroka Hospital and it was deemed necessary that he be transferred to Pelonomi Tertiary Hospital.
“The patient had sustained major burns to his face, neck, right shoulder and left hand,” read part of the statement.
“He was assessed as 16 percent body surface (as well as inhalational).
“During his stay at the hospital the patient never had respiratory complications and continued with face mask oxygen.”
It remains unclear what led the patient to fall off the building as he was said to be doing well.
“The patient was never confused at any point and did not exhibit any signs of alcohol or substance withdrawal. He remained fully conscious and interactive with ward staff and Glascow Comma Scale maintained. No suicidal ideation . . . and no psychosis,” the provincial health department said.
The statement said the patient was found lying in a pool of blood along a corridor leading to the admissions office by a security guard at about 3:30am last Friday.
The officer then alerted the after-hours office and the hospital called the police.
The scene was attended to by criminal investigation detectives and the forensics team.
The family of the deceased was later informed and has been offered psychosocial support.
An independent investigation is currently underway by the police and forensic teams. – Staff Reporter