Police are investigating the death of a 72-year-old man at Sutherland Hospital, which occurred after a woman allegedly sabotaged gas supplies at the facility. Vanessa Moulton, 42, has been charged with cutting the non-medical gas supply and water mains at Kareena Private Hospital before switching off the gas main at Sutherland Hospital, both in Caringbah, New South Wales.
The loss of gas forced Sutherland Hospital to switch to portable oxygen and air as part of its contingency plans, according to NSW Health Minister Ryan Park. Gas systems were restored within approximately two hours. Park stated he was initially advised there was no impact to patient care but later learned a patient had died during that period.
Police were informed on Tuesday afternoon that a man had died at the hospital on Kareena Road. Officers were told the man died at about 2:30am, and doctors subsequently issued a death certificate. A report is being prepared for the coroner. The health minister phoned the family to extend his condolences, and the South Eastern Sydney Local Health District said it was investigating the death.
Moulton was charged on Tuesday afternoon with public nuisance, entering prescribed premises without lawful excuse, sabotage, destroying or damaging property, breach of bail, tampering with a fire alarm, and trespass. She appeared at Sutherland Local Court on Wednesday, where she denied the sabotage charge, stating, 'I didn’t do it.' She was refused bail and remanded in custody to return to court on 24 December.
