A man has been arrested following a violent disturbance at an Accident and Emergency waiting room in Bolton, where a patient reportedly had part of his ear bitten off.
Chaotic Scene in Hospital Waiting Room
Police were called to Bolton Hospital shortly after 4pm on Friday following reports of a man attacking other patients. The incident unfolded in the A&E department, creating a scene of chaos and fear. A man in his 20s was subsequently arrested on suspicion of a number of offences.
One witness, Michael Anderson, 34, was waiting with his pregnant partner when the violence erupted. He described how he and a nurse were forced to pin the suspect to the ground to prevent further attacks before hospital security arrived.
Witness Recounts Terrifying Ordeal
"I had gone to A&E with my partner, who is pregnant, and we were waiting at the desk to be checked in," Anderson recalled. "He was getting irate in his chair. After about ten minutes, he stood up... began to count out every person in the waiting room."
The situation quickly escalated. "There was this man, who was quite frail, walking out, and this guy swung for him," Anderson stated. "Another person then saw this and tried to grab him and stop him, when he latched onto his ear and bit part of it off."
Anderson said he managed to grab the assailant, throw him to the ground, and restrain him until help came. He described a scene of panic in the aftermath. "There was a girl sitting on the floor with her knees to her chest, having a panic attack. It was honestly like a bomb had gone off afterwards."
Police Investigation and Charges
Greater Manchester Police confirmed officers were called to the incident at around 4:15pm. A spokesperson said: "One man in his 20s was arrested on suspicion of s18 and s47 assault, police assault and racially aggravated public order." The force did not provide specific details on the injuries sustained by the victims.
Pictures from the scene showed a number of police vehicles stationed outside the A&E entrance. The attack has raised serious concerns about patient safety and security within NHS hospital waiting areas.
