A 48-year-old patient now faces attempted murder charges after allegedly setting a fellow patient on fire inside a Sydney hospital ward.
Radovan Banic, 54, told Nine News from his hospital bed that he smelled gasoline just moments before flames engulfed him in the spinal unit at Prince of Wales Hospital in Randwick. The attack occurred around 10:45 p.m. On Tuesday, October 13, when emergency services responded to a concern for welfare call.
“I smelt it, but it was too late. He already lit me up,” Banic said.
He had been admitted to the hospital for spinal treatment when the alleged assault took place. The gasoline had been concealed inside a drink bottle, according to police.
“I could just smell petrol all over my hair,” Banic continued.
Police allege the accused poured accelerant over Banic and two other patients — a 63-year-old man and a 64-year-old woman — before igniting only Banic. Hospital staff managed to extinguish the flames before they could spread further.
Banic sustained minor burns and remained in stable condition under observation as a precaution. The other two patients who were doused in accelerant were not set alight.
The alleged attacker, whose name has not been released, was arrested at the scene. The motive for the assault remains unclear as the investigation continues.
The Prince of Wales Hospital spinal unit became the scene of a chaotic late-night emergency when staff rushed to contain the situation and treat the victims. The ward houses patients recovering from serious back and spinal conditions, making the rapid evacuation and response particularly challenging.
Banic’s account of smelling fuel too late to escape underscores the sudden violence of the alleged attack. The accelerant had already been distributed across three patients before any warning could be given.
The 48-year-old accused is expected to appear in court to face the attempted murder charges.