Police are on the hunt for a prisoner who was being treated at Wanganui Hospital's medical ward when he overpowered two Corrections officers and fled on Thursday night.
Kenneth John Burns, 34, a remand prisoner facing dishonesty offences, had been at the hospital since December 2.
Police used a dog to track him but with no success. They have warned the public not to approach him but to contact police if they see him.
Whanganui District Health Board chief executive Julie Patterson said at yesterday's board meeting that Burns escaped custody about 8pm and staff took immediate action and made sure no staff or patients were in any danger.
She said there was "no threat to anybody".
"There's no issue here is really what I'm saying.
"We have a patient in the community somewhere who has self-discharged without our normal self-discharge documentation being completed . . . obviously this gentleman has self-discharged but he didn't hang around to fill in the paperwork."
Burns is a Maori male, 173cm tall and a medium-solid build. He was last seen wearing a greenish coloured top and grey pants. He was not wearing shoes.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Whanganui Police on 06 349 0600 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.