Johannesburg – A 35-year-old female patient, who was in seclusion at the psychiatric unit, has died in a fire at Dr. George Mukhari Academic Hospital.
The mental healthcare user was admitted to the hospital on 20 June 2024.
In a statement on Monday, the Gauteng Department of Health said it “can confirm an unfortunate fire incident that occurred at Dr. George Mukhari Academic Hospital’s female psychiatric unit, which sadly resulted in the passing of a 35-year-old female patient”.
Narrating events leading to the tragedy, the department said the female mental healthcare user was placed in a seclusion room on Monday, (24 June 2024), as part of her prescribed treatment.
At around 18:35 a small fire broke out from the seclusion room.
“Immediate actions were taken to safeguard the safety and well-being of patients,” the department said.
“The fire was quickly contained and extinguished by the fire brigade, but unfortunately, the patient in the seclusion room sustained fatal injuries.
“Seventeen other patients in the unit were successfully evacuated and temporarily relocated to a different wing of the psychiatric department as a precautionary measure.”
The Tshwane Emergency Services Department said: “Firefighters arrived on the scene to find that the hospital staff had already extinguished the fire in a single isolation ward using portable fire extinguishers.”
The Gauteng Department of Health spokesperson, Motalatale Modiba, said the cause of the fire was still unknown at this stage.
He said the incident had been reported to the South African Police Service for further investigation.
“The department wishes to extend our deepest condolences to the patient’s family as they mourn the sudden passing of their daughter,” said Modiba.
“Both the bereaved family and the families of the 17 patients will be taken through a debriefing.
“Counselling services will also be made available to them.”
