A patient at a Sydney hospital allegedly poured petrol on his fellow patients before setting one on fire in a shocking attack detectives are treating as a murder attempt.
Raymond James Dungay, a 48-year-old man admitted to the spinal ward of Prince of Wales Hospital, is accused of orchestrating the attack at 10.45pm on Tuesday, in which he allegedly doused three patients, including 54-year-old Randovan Banic, in petrol hidden in a drink bottle before igniting his lighter.
The flame failed to catch on the first two patients – a 63-year-old man and 64-year-old woman – before burning Banic, a spinal patient who suffered injuries across his body.
“[He was] coming towards me and all of a sudden, he f---ing douses me in petrol, I smelt it, but it was too late, he lit me up,” Banic told Nine News on Wednesday from his hospital bed.
“I could just smell petrol all over, my hairs singed, my eyebrows, got smoke in my eyes, just everything, just been pumping me with water.”
Nurses rushed to the ward after hearing screams and quickly extinguished the flames on Banic’s body before treating the patients.
Banic has been treated for minor burns suffered in the attack and remains in a stable condition in hospital. The 63-year-old man and 64-year-old woman doused in petrol but not burnt remain in a stable condition after being treated for minor injuries associated with the attack.
Dungay has been charged with two counts of attempted murder, common assault, and two counts of intent to cause grievous bodily harm.
Health Minister Ryan Park condemned the “shocking, appalling behaviour” of the alleged offender, as he launched an urgent review into the circumstances that led to the attack.
“From all accounts staff did a marvellous job, but I’ve made it clear that if they need additional support, then I’ll certainly look at doing that,” he said.
Dungay remains in hospital under close police guard, where he is expected to appear in bail court on Thursday via audiovisual link. He is also expected to undergo mental health assessments.
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