One female individual has been arrested after medical gas supplies were allegedly sabotaged at two metropolitan healthcare centers.
Incident Details
The Sutherland medical facility in southern Sydney experienced disruption to medical gases on Tuesday morning, forcing staff to transition to mobile gas alternatives as an emergency measure, according to health officials.
"This incident of the loss of gases appears to be deliberate sabotage," authorities declared.
They further emphasized that "{To reportedly do this is beyond serious. It could have been disastrous outcomes."
Law Enforcement Response
Law enforcement said they received reports of "alleged vandalism at two hospitals in Caringbah." Sources indicate that the second location was a local private medical center.
Authorities claim a 42-year-old woman entered the grounds of a hospital on Kareena Road at approximately just after midnight on Tuesday morning and "severed utility lines, then turning on fire hoses."
Investigators additionally claim that at approximately 1:30 AM, "the woman accessed the property of another hospital on Kareena Road ... and allegedly switched off the primary gas supply."
The individual was apprehended in the Miranda area at about 4 AM on Tuesday morning for violating bail conditions, police confirmed.
Hospital Response
Health officials stated that medical gas supplies were returned to operation by hospital teams and regional health authorities "in about two hours time."
"Let me reassure the public patient care was not affected to patient care and that the system has resumed normal operations as per normal," authorities announced.
Officials further noted that "Entry to gas systems in NSW public hospitals is restricted. We will review the situation to see what improvements can be put in place."
Authorities disclosed that the suspect allegedly climbed over a barrier at Sutherland hospital and gained access to a secured zone.
- Critical gas supplies disrupted at two facilities
- Individual apprehended in Miranda
- Services restored within 120 minutes
- Zero effect on medical treatment confirmed
- Security measures under review
