Second Patient Escapes From Oakley Hospital

Press, Volume CV, Issue 30975, 3 February 1966, Page 3

Second Patient Escapes From Oakley Hospital

(New Zealand Press Association)

AUCKLAND, February 2.

Policemen waded through waist-deep mud in Oakley creek beside the Northern motorway this morning to recapture an Oakley Hospital patient who jumped through a plate-glass window to freedom while awaiting treatment.

The man, whose name was not released by the hospital authorities, was at large only half an hour. Another escaper from the hospital, Jack Dillion Corrigan, aged 57, is still at large. He has not been seen since he escaped on Sunday night.

The man who escaped today suffered only a slight cut

to his back when he jumped through the glass, and made his way into the creek and mudflats after menacing traffic officers with a piece of wood. He was dressed only in pyjama pants and was barefooted. He made his way into the creek through properties beside the Great North road. Bailed Up

Eventually he was bailed up on one side of the creek with some policemen covering his tracks and Constable T. Beatson and his dog, Adam, leading a party down the motorway side. He gave himself up after pleading for some minutes for Adam to be taken away. A senior medical officer at the hospital said the man had been a patient at Oakley for only five weeks and was regarded as “not dangerous.” He described the sudden burst to freedom as an impulsive act The man had recently been transferred to an open ward. He said the escape showed the difficulties faced by hospital staff in determining a patient’s condition. MINOR FIRES The Christchurch Fire Brigade were called to four minor fires yesterday, none of which caused major damage. A grass fire near the railway line off Farquhars road, Styx, at 5.10 p.m. was attended to by St. Albans firemen A rubbish fire on the property of Mrs N. Kerr, 64 Brisbane street, at 3.35 p.m., was attended to by Sydenham and Headquarters Stations firemen. A fire in the sawdust hopper of Bunting and Company. Fife street, caused slight damage. Headquarters firemen answered the alarm at 1.11 p.m. About nine feet of hedge on the property of Mr R. Reynolds, 26 Earnslaw street, was damaged by fire at 9.10 ajn. Woolston and Headquarters firemen attended.

The search for Corrigan is now in its third day and is still confined mainly to the western suburbs. Police believe that as an expert bushman Corrigan might try to make his way into the Waitakere area to live off the land and steal food and clothing from houses and baches.