Nurse ‘beaten nearly to death in crowbar rampage’ says she is ‘lucky to be alive’

A nurse has told how she was nearly “beaten to death” during her shift and feels “so lucky to be alive” after she ran and hid from her attacker during the horror which saw six people injured

A nurse attacked with a crowbar by a man who was refused a hospital appointment has revealed her horror injuries and said: “I am so, so lucky I am still alive.”

Meg Lynch, 28, said she was “nearly beaten to death” as she stood getting a drink from a vending machine at Newton Community Hospital in Merseyside on Tuesday.

The district nurse said she suffered “a few blows to the head” which left her bloodied and bruised before she fled her alleged attacker. She went to a nearby A&E unit for a CT scan and to have her “head sewn back together”, she said.

A 20-year-old man, originally from Afghanistan, was arrested at the scene on on suspicion of six counts of Section 18 wounding, affray and criminal damage. He has now been detained under Section 136 of the Mental Health Act, Merseyside Police said on Wednesday.

Meg, from nearby Wigan, posted pictures of her bloodied head on Facebook, writing: “Just an update to everyone who’s been concerned, as I’ve not had the chance to reply to everyone .Today, as a district nurse, around 12:00 I was attacked at work, at the hospital I am based at.

“I was beaten nearly to death with a crow bar by an unknown man, who started attacking me from behind with the crow bar, as I stood getting a drink from a vending machine.

“After a few blows to the head, I ran, I hid and did what I could do, to get a door between me and him.

“I’ve been to Whiston AandE, who was absolutely amazing to me. My CT scans and X ray have come back clear and I’ve had my head sewn back together, after they cut all the matted blood out

“I honestly don’t know why this man did this to me and other workers of the hospital, but I’m so, so, so lucky I’m still alive and I’m so lucky I ran when I did, otherwise I wouldn’t be here right now.”

Merseyside Police were scrambled to the scene in Newton-Le-Willows, near St Helens, just after noon on Tuesday after six people were injured.

The force later revealed how the man is thought to have attended the hospital to request an appointment but became “increasingly agitated” when his request was declined and he was asked to leave.

He was reported to have damaged a counter before assaulting multiple people inside the hospital.

In an update, the force said a total of six people needed hospital treatment and treatment at walk-in centres after the incident. Their injuries included head lacerations, injuries to their arms and hands, and bruising. All are in a stable condition.

Cops said the weapon used during the attack – which they described as a metal bar – has been recovered for forensic examination, witnesses are being spoken to and police patrols have increased in the area.

Superintendent Sarah Rotherham said: “We understand that this incident would have caused concern for the local community and I hope the public feel reassured by the increased police presence.”

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