Spring Hill prisoner captured after escape from Waikato Hospital

A prisoner escaped from Spring Hill Corrections Facility custodial staff during an appointment at Waikato Hospital. Photo / Alan Gibson

A prisoner who escaped from Waikato Hospital this afternoon is back in custody after a chase that led police from Hamilton to Te Awamutu and Leamington.

The escapee had earlier allegedly assaulted two Corrections officers before fleeing the scene in a car from the hospital carpark.

Detective Inspector Darrell Harpur said police were called to the “serious incident” about 12.30pm.

“Police were notified of a person escaping custody and assaulting two Corrections Officers outside Waikato Hospital.”

Harpur said the alleged offender reportedly “carjacked a vehicle” from the hospital carpark and fled the scene.

“Police made area inquiries to locate the man in the stolen vehicle, before it was sighted by the Eagle helicopter in Te Awamutu at around 3.25pm.”

The car was tracked by helicopter until police successfully spiked the vehicle on Cambridge Rd, Leamington about 3.40pm.

“The vehicle then came to a stop just off Cambridge Rd approximately five minutes later, where the offender was taken into custody,” Harpur said.

The 25-year-old man is due to appear in the Hamilton District Court tomorrow, facing several serious charges.

“This was a rapidly evolving incident,” Harpur said.

Spring Hill Corrections Facility general manager Scott Walker said the prisoner absconded from custodial staff during an “off-site specialist medical appointment”.

“Police were informed immediately,” Walker said.

He said the prisoner has since been arrested.

“A full operational review into the circumstances of the incident will be carried out.

“As the review will be ongoing, we are limited in the amount of information that we are able to provide at this stage.”

Health New Zealand Te Whatu Ora declined to comment on the incident.

Maryana Garcia is a Hamilton-based reporter covering breaking news in Waikato. She previously wrote for the Rotorua Daily Post and Bay of Plenty Times.